How Dopamine Controls Connections Between Horizontal Cells in the Goldfish Eye

The density of gap junction particles in horizontal cell somas decreased significantly in light-adapted and dopamine-treated goldfish retinas compared to dark-adapted and haloperidol-treated retinas.

• Dopamine treatment may uncouple horizontal cell somas by decreasing gap junction particle density.
• No significant differences were found between light-adapted and dopamine-treated retinas, nor between dark-adapted and haloperidol-treated retinas.
• The findings indicate a greater release of dopamine during light adaptation than during dark adaptation.
• Horizontal cell axon terminals did not show consistent changes in gap junction particle density related to light or dark adaptation.
• There may be a reduction in gap junction particle density at axon terminals with dopamine treatment, but this effect is not reversed by haloperidol.

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