Reciprocal inhibition of voltage-gated potassium currents (I K(V)) by activation of cannabinoid CB1 and dopamine D1 receptors in ON bipolar cells of goldfish retina.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptor (via Gs) and dopamine D2 receptor (via Gi/o) antagonistically modulate goldfish cone membrane currents. As ON bipolar cells have CB1 and D1 receptors, but not D2 receptors, we focused on whether CB1 receptor agonist and dopamine interact to modulate voltage-dependent outward membrane K+ currents I K(V) of the ON mixed rod/cone (Mb) bipolar cells. Whole-cell currents were recorded from Mb bipolar cells in goldfish retinal slices. Mb bipolar cells were identified by intracellular filling with Lucifer yellow. The bath solution was calcium-free and contained 1 mM cobalt to block indirect calcium-dependent effects. Dopamine (10 microM) consistently increased I K(V) by a factor of 1.57 +/- 0.12 (S.E.M., n = 15). A CB receptor agonist, WIN 55212-2 (0.25-1 microM), had no effect, but 4 microM WIN 55212-2 suppressed I K(V) by 60%. If I K(V) was first increased by 10 microM dopamine, application of WIN 55212-2 (0.25-1 microM) reversibly blocked the effect of dopamine even though these concentrations of WIN 55212-2 had no effect of their own. If WIN 55212-2 was applied first and dopamine (10 microM) was added to the WIN-containing solution, 0.1 microM WIN 55212-2 blocked the effect of dopamine. All effects of WIN 55212-2 were blocked by coapplication of SR 141716A (CB1 antagonist) and pretreatment with pertussis toxin (blocker of Gi/o) indicating action via CB1 receptor activation of G protein Gi/o. Coactivation of CB1 and D1 receptors on Mb bipolar cells produces reciprocal effects on I K(V). The CB1-evoked suppression of I K(V) is mediated by G protein Gi/o, whereas the D1-evoked enhancement is mediated by G protein Gs. As dopamine is a retinal "light" signal, these data support our notion that endocannabinoids function as a "dark" signal, interacting with dopamine to set retinal sensitivity.