The immunocytochemical localization of connexin 36 at rod and cone gap junctions in the guinea pig retina

Dec 6, 2003The European journal of neuroscience

Location of connexin 36 protein at rod and cone cell connections in the guinea pig retina

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Abstract

Strong Cx36 immunoreactivity was observed in the ON sublamina of the inner plexiform layer and in the outer plexiform layer of the guinea pig retina.

Cx36 is a channel-forming protein found in specific neurons in the guinea pig retina.
Immunocytochemistry revealed clustered Cx36 localization at the axon terminals of cone photoreceptors and near rod photoreceptors.
Electron microscopy showed Cx36 in gap junctions and cytoplasmic matrices of cone photoreceptors.
Homologous gap junctions were identified between neighboring cone photoreceptors, while heterologous gap junctions were found between cones and rods.
The results suggest that rod photoreceptors may transmit signals to neighboring cone photoreceptors via Cx36.

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Connexin 36 (Cx36) is a channel-forming protein found in the membranes of apposed cells, forming the hexameric hemichannels of intercellular gap junction channels. It localizes to certain neurons in various regions of the brain including the retina. We characterized the expression pattern of neuronal Cx36 in the guinea pig retina by immunocytochemistry using specific antisera against Cx36 and green/red cone opsin or recoverin. Strong Cx36 immunoreactivity was visible in the ON sublamina of the inner plexiform layer and in the outer plexiform layer, as punctate labelling patterns. Double-labelling experiments with antibody directed against Cx36 and green/red cone opsin or recoverin showed that strong clustered Cx36 immunoreactivity localized to the axon terminals of cone or close to rod photoreceptors. By electron microscopy, Cx36 immunoreactivity was visible in the gap junctions as well as in the cytoplasmic matrices of both sides of cone photoreceptors. In the gap junctions between cone and rod photoreceptors, Cx36 immunoreactivity was only visible in the cytoplasmic matrices of cone photoreceptors. These results clearly indicate that Cx36 forms homologous gap junctions between neighbouring cone photoreceptors, and forms heterologous gap junctions between cone and rod photoreceptors in guinea pig retina. This focal location of Cx36 at the terminals of the photoreceptor suggests that rod photoreceptors can transmit rod signals to the pedicle of a neighbouring cone photoreceptor via Cx36, and that the cone in turn signals to corresponding ganglion cells via ON and OFF cone bipolar cells.

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The immunocytochemical localization of connexin 36 at rod and cone gap junctions in the guinea pig retina

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