The glutamate-receptor linked cGMP cascade of retinal on-bipolar cells is pertussis and cholera toxin-sensitive.

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were obtained from light-responsive on-bipolar cells in retinal slices of the dogfish. Inclusion of the A-subunit of pertussis toxin in the patch-pipette solution resulted in an increase in inward current and membrane conductance, and a block of light-evoked currents of on-bipolar cells. The opposite effect was obtained with the A-subunit of cholera toxin, which blocked light responses, and induced an outward current and a decrease in membrane conductance. These actions were NAD+ dependent. The results show that the G-protein(s) linking glutamate receptors to a cGMP cascade in on-bipolar cells possess sites which are ADP-ribosylated by pertussis and cholera toxins, with no homology to the adenylate cyclase system but possibly with a homology to transducin. Furthermore, inclusion of H-7, a kinase inhibitor in the patch-pipette solution, or of a non-hydrolysable ATP analogue (AMP-PNP) had no effect on light responses, membrane conductance or dark current of on-bipolar cells, suggesting that the components of this cGMP cascade are unlikely to be regulated by protein kinases.