Effects of Nitric Oxide on Inhibitory Receptors of Rod Bipolar Cells of Rat Retina

ABSTRACT

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and some types of inhibitory receptors in dissociated rod bipolar cell (RBC) were investigated. In the whole cell voltage-clamping mode, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activated current showed both sustained and transient components. GABA activated transient current was fully blocked by bicuculine, a GABAA receptor antagonist. The cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA), a GABAC receptor agonist, evoked the sustained current that was not blocked by bicuculline (BIC). Glycine activated the transient current. These results indicate that the RBCs possess GABAA, GABAC, and glycine inhibitory receptors. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO analogue, reduced the currents activated by GABAA receptor only, however, did not reduce the currents activated by either GABAC or glycine receptors. This study signifies further that only NO depresses the fast inhibitory response activated by GABAA receptor in RBC. We, therefore, postulate that NO might depress the light-on/off transient inhibitory responses in RBCs in the rat retina.