Review Article

Channeling Vision: CaV1.4—A Critical Link in Retinal Signal Transmission

Figure 2

Effect of phototransduction on photoreceptor membrane potential, calcium influx through and glutamate release at the ribbon synapse. In complete darkness, sodium ion influx through open CGN channels in photoreceptor outer segments maintains the membrane potential at ~−40 mV, where channel conductance and glutamate release are at their physiological maxima. Phototransduction in response to increased illumination causes graded decreases in sodium ion influx through CGN channels, a hyperpolarization of the photoreceptor membrane, a decrease in calcium ion influx into the presynaptic terminal and resultant decreased glutamate release.