Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4034324 | Vision Research | 2011 | 8 Pages |
Emerging evidence indicates rods can communicate with retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) via pathways that do not involve gap-junctions. Here we investigated the significance of such pathways for central visual responses, using mice lacking a key gap junction protein (Cx36−/−) and carrying a mutation that disrupts cone phototransduction (Gnat2cpfl3). Electrophysiological recordings spanning the lateral geniculate revealed rod-mediated ON and OFF visual responses in virtually every cell from all major anatomical sub-compartments of this nucleus. Hence, we demonstrate that one or more classes of RGC receive input from Cx36-independent rod pathways and drive extensive ON and OFF responses across the visual thalamus.
Research highlights► Light drives sustained and transient responses throughout the LGN of mice with disrupted cone phototransduction and lacking Cx36 ► Both On and Off responses are retained in this animal ► Cx36-independent rod pathways can support diverse visual responses in the mouse thalamus.