A noncanonical inhibitory circuit dampens behavioral sensitivity to light

Takuma Sonoda, Jennifer Y. Li, Nikolas W. Hayes, Jonathan C. Chan, Yudai Okabe, Stephane Belin, Homaira Nawabi, Tiffany M. Schmidt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) drive diverse, light-evoked behaviors that range from conscious visual perception to subconscious, non–image-forming behaviors. It is thought that RGCs primarily drive these functions through the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. We identified a subset of melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs) in mice that release the inhibitory neurotransmitter g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at non–image-forming brain targets. GABA release from ipRGCs dampened the sensitivity of both the pupillary light reflex and circadian photoentrainment, thereby shifting the dynamic range of these behaviors to higher light levels. Our results identify an inhibitory RGC population in the retina and provide a circuit-level mechanism that contributes to the relative insensitivity of non–image-forming behaviors at low light levels.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)527-531
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume368
Issue number6490
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2020

Funding

This work was funded by a Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship in the Neurosciences to T.M.S., a Sloan Research Fellowship to T.M.S., NIH grant 1DP2EY022584 to T.M.S, NIH T32 EY025202 to support T.S., and NIH F31 EY030360-01 to T.S.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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