Dysfunctional Light-Evoked Regulation of cAMP in Photoreceptors and Abnormal Retinal Adaptation in Mice Lacking Dopamine D4 Receptors

• Autores: Nir, Izhak; Harrison, Joseph M.; Haque, Rashidul; Low, Malcolm J.; Grandy, David K.; Rubinstein, Marcelo; Iuvone, P. Michael
• Año de publicación: 2002
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Dopamine; Dopamine D4 receptors; Photoreceptor; Adaptation; cAMP; Retina; Light adaptation; Electroretinogram
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Dopamine is a retinal neuromodulator that has been implicated in many aspects of retinal physiology. Photoreceptor cells express dopamine D4 receptors that regulate cAMP metabolism. To assess the effects of dopamine on photoreceptor physiology, we examined the morphology, electrophysiology, and regulation of cAMP metabolism in mice with targeted disruption of the dopamine D4 receptor gene. Photoreceptor morphology and outer segment disc shedding after light onset were normal in D4 knock-out (D4KO) mice. Quinpirole, a dopamine D2/ D3/D4 receptor agonist, decreased cAMP synthesis in retinas of wild-type (WT) mice but not in retinas of D4KO mice. In WT retinas, the photoreceptors of which were functionally isolated by incubation in the presence of exogenous glutamate, light also suppressed cAMP synthesis. Despite the similar inhibition of cAMP synthesis, the effect of light is directly on the photoreceptors and independent of dopamine modulation, because it was unaffected by application of the D4 receptor antagonist L-745,870. Nevertheless, compared with WT retinas, basal cAMP formation was reduced in the photoreceptors of D4KO retinas, and light had no additional inhibitory effect. The results suggest that dopamine, via D4 receptors, normally modulates the cascade that couples light responses to adenylyl cyclase activity in photoreceptor cells, and the absence of this modulation results in dysfunction of the cascade. Dark-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) responses were normal in D4KO mice. However, ERG b-wave responses were greatly suppressed during both light adaptation and early stages of dark adaptation. Thus, the absence of D4 receptors affects adaptation, altering transmission of light responses from photoreceptors to inner retinal neurons. These findings indicate that dopamine D4 receptors normally play a major role in regulating photoreceptor cAMP metabolism and adaptive retinal responses to changing environmental illumination.
Fil: Nir, Izhak. The University of Texas Health Science Center; Estados Unidos
Fil: Harrison, Joseph M.. The University of Texas Health Science Center; Estados Unidos
Fil: Haque, Rashidul. Emory University School of Medicine; Estados Unidos
Fil: Low, Malcolm J.. Oregon Health and Science University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Grandy, David K.. Oregon Health and Science University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Rubinstein, Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina
Fil: Iuvone, P. Michael. Emory University School of Medicine; Estados Unidos