Bipolar cells/neurons retinal

Zenisek D, Steyer JA, Eeldman ME, Aimers W (2002) A membrane marker leaves synaptic vesicles in nulliseconds after exocytosis in retinal bipolar cells. Neuron 35 1085-1097 Zhang L, He T, Talal A, Wang G, Frankel SS, Ho DD (1998) In vivo distribution of the human immunodeficiency virus/simian immunodeficiency virus coreceptors CXCR4, CCR3, and CCR5. J Virol 72 5035-5045... 

In the primitive nervous system, sensory cells evolved from general epithelial cells. Primitive nervous systems of modern echinoderms and lower deuterostomes are still composed of three cell types that include the primary sensory cells, the neurons that connect the sensory cells to distal targets, and a supporting cell that serves the special physiological needs of such a system (Lacalli, 2001). The basic structural plan of the retina is comparable to such a primitive nervous system. In the course of evolution, the photoreceptive system developed specialized photoreceptor cells (rods and cones), intra-retinal second-order neurons (bipolar cells), and tertiary output neurons (ganglion cells). This evolution perhaps took place in photopic conditions therefore early photoreceptor cells were more like cones. 

Glutamate is the major excitatory retinal neurotransmitter in retina. It is released by photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells (Sharma and Ehinger, 2003). Normally, the released glutamate remains in the synaptic cleft only for a short time (a few milliseconds). If glutamate levels remain elevated for a prolonged period of time, this can excite neurons to death. This mechanism of cell death is referred to as excitotoxicity. 

The b-wave is an incidental response from the MUller cells originated by the postsynaptic neurones (probably the depolarizing bipolar cells) and is moderately sensitive to toxic agents. The abnormal b-wave alone, however, can not specify the site of retinal damage, because many kinds of retinal cells are involved in the generation of the b-wave. 

Figure I. Structure of a ciliated photoreceptor cell in vertebrates. (A) Scheme of a rod photoreceptor cell. (B) Transmission electronmicroscopy image of a part of a mouse rod photoreceptor cell. The apical extensions of cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) evolve the tips of photoreceptors light-sensitive outer segments (OS). The OS is linked via a connecting cilium (CC) to an inner segment (IS) which bears the basal body complex (BB) in its apical region. Synaptic terminals (S) link the photoreceptor cell and the 2nd-order neurons, bipolar and horizontal cells. N = nucleus in B, arrow point to axonemal microtubules projecting into the OS. Bar in B = 0.2 p,m...

Bipolar neurons have tw o processes extending from the cell body (Figure 14.2). Most sensory (or afferent) neurons are this type, carrying messages from the body s sense receptors (eyes, ears, etc.) to the CNS. Sensory neurons account for 0.9% of all the neurons. Examples of sensory neurons are retinal cells, olfactory epithelium cells, and the cochlear and vestibular ganglia. 

Berrebi AS, Oberdick J, Sangameswaran L, Christakos S, Morgan JI, Mugnaini E (1991) Cerebellar Purkinje cell markers are expressed in retinal bipolar neurons. J. Comp. Neurol, 308, 630-649. 

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