Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells are vital for vision, some have intrinsic light sensing properties and in retinal networks display complex computational abilities. Furthermore they are implicated in a very common form of blindness, glaucoma as well some the symptoms of AIDS. Retinal ganglion cells, unlike many neurones of the central nervous system, have a clearly defined physiological role and can be identified in primary cultures with ease. Here we detail the cell culture and electrophysiological methods required to obtain recordings on the voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion currents and channels expressed by these neurones. Information is given on the range of non-ionotropic receptors that are thought to be present on these cells and what role they may have as model systems in the pharmacological and pharmaceutical research environment.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Calcium / metabolism
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Calcium Channels / drug effects
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Calcium Channels / physiology
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Cell Line
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Cells, Cultured
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Electric Stimulation
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Electrophysiology
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Fluorometry
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Ion Channel Gating / drug effects
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Ion Channel Gating / physiology
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Iontophoresis
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Ligands
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Membrane Potentials / physiology
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / physiology*
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Potassium Channels / drug effects
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Potassium Channels / physiology
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Rats
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Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
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Receptors, Glutamate / drug effects
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Receptors, Glycine / drug effects
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Receptors, Nicotinic / drug effects
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Receptors, Purinergic P2 / drug effects
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Receptors, Purinergic P2X
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Retina / anatomy & histology
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology*
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Sodium Channels / drug effects
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Sodium Channels / physiology
Substances
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Calcium Channels
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Ligands
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Potassium Channels
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Receptors, GABA-A
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Receptors, Glutamate
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Receptors, Glycine
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Receptors, Nicotinic
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Receptors, Purinergic P2
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Receptors, Purinergic P2X
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Sodium Channels
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Calcium