Becker D, Bonness V, Mobbs P
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Cell Biol Int. 1998 Nov;22(11-12):781-92. doi: 10.1006/cbir.1998.0390.
Gap junction channels (electrical synapses) are a major component of the central nervous system mediating both electrical and metabolic coupling between neurons and glia. Their roles are as diverse as the cell types in which they are expressed and only some of these are reviewed here. In the adult the plastic nature of the gap junction channel allows for changes in the writing of the retinal circuitry that optimize visual processing to suit ambient lighting conditions. Gap junctional communication has been proposed to play a key role in embryonic development in general and in particular during the development of the retina where its roles may include control of neurogenesis, cell specification, synaptogenesis, and the synchronization of the spontaneous electrical activity required for the sharpening of central visual projections. Here we review gap junctional coupling within the retina and present data correlating gap junction expression with development events in the chick retina.
缝隙连接通道（电突触）是中枢神经系统的主要组成部分，介导神经元与神经胶质细胞之间的电耦合和代谢耦合。它们的作用与表达它们的细胞类型一样多样，这里仅对其中一些进行综述。在成体中，缝隙连接通道的可塑性允许视网膜回路的书写发生变化，从而优化视觉处理以适应环境光照条件。一般认为缝隙连接通讯在胚胎发育中起关键作用，特别是在视网膜发育过程中，其作用可能包括控制神经发生、细胞特化、突触形成以及中枢视觉投射锐化所需的自发电活动的同步。在这里，我们综述视网膜内的缝隙连接耦合，并呈现将缝隙连接表达与鸡视网膜发育事件相关联的数据。
