Neurochemical organization of the first visual synapse

Abstract

The retina employs two main synaptic relays in which information converges to higher order cells, and at the same time is modified by lateral inhibitory interneurons. At the first synaptic layer, rod and cone terminals contact second order neurons (horizontal and bipolar cells), and in turn, horizontal cells contact cones and bipolar cells. In this talk/review we describe the structures and the neurochemicals involved in transmitting the visual signal at this synaptic complex.