Electrophysiological properties of retinal ganglion cells in Long Evans rats at different postnatal developmental stages / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the electrophysiological properties of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) in Long Evans rats during different postnatal developmental stages so as to explore the intracellular mechanism of retinal neuron maturation. Methods Whole cell patch clamp recordings of RGCs in acute retinal slices of Long Evans rats (postnatal days 3 to 31) were performed. Depolarizing current pulses of different densities were inflicted on RGCs to evoke action potentials(AP) . Results A total of 94 RGCs, single spike cells, transient and sustained cells, were acquired in 33 rats. The proportion of the three types of TGCs was different. There was significant difference in electrophysiological properties. Conclusion During the period of postnatal development, gradually matured electrophysiological properties of RGCs and differences in amplitudes and frequencies of AP suggest that different types of RGCs may play different roles in coding and transmitting spatial and temporal information.