Espen Hartveit

E-mailEspen.Hartveit@uib.no
Phone+47 55 58 63 50
Visitor Address
Jonas Lies vei 91

5009 Bergen
Postal Address
Postboks 7804

5020 Bergen

Synaptic interactions in the retina: receptors, mechanisms, circuits and networks

Our lab is interested in the cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission and synaptic integration in the central nervous system. Our main goal is to understand the synaptic and cellular mechanisms employed by identified neurons and specific microcircuits for signal processing. The primary techniques we use are targeted patch-clamp recording of visually-identified neurons, multiphoton (2-photon) imaging, immunocytochemistry, confocal imaging and computational modeling.

BMED340

MED3

Show author(s) (2023). Functional properties of GABAA receptors of AII amacrine cells of the rat retina. Frontiers in Ophthalmology.

Show author(s) (2022). The mosaic of AII amacrine cell bodies in rat retina is indistinguishable from a random distribution. Visual Neuroscience. 13 pages.
Show author(s) (2022). Inhibitory inputs to an inhibitory interneuron: Spontaneous postsynaptic currents and GABA<inf>A</inf> receptors of A17 amacrine cells in the rat retina. European Journal of Neuroscience. 1442-1470.
Show author(s) (2022). Digital reconstruction and quantitative morphometric analysis of bipolar cells in live rat retinal slices. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 1700-1728.
Show author(s) (2022). Dendritic morphology of an inhibitory retinal interneuron enables simultaneous local and global synaptic integration. Journal of Neuroscience. 1630-1647.

Show author(s) (2021). Morphological properties of the axon initial segment-like process of AII amacrine cells in the rat retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology.
Show author(s) (2021). Different glutamate sources and endogenous co-agonists activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on amacrine cells of the rod pathway microcircuit. European Journal of Neuroscience.

Show author(s) (2020). Differential contribution of gap junctions to the membrane properties of ON- and OFF-bipolar cells of the rat retina. Cellular and molecular neurobiology. 17 pages.
Show author(s) (2020). Different mechanisms of activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in a retinal microcircuit .

Show author(s) (2019). Why does an axon-less interneuron in the retina fire action potentials?
Show author(s) (2019). Why does an axon-less interneuron in the retina fire action potentials?
Show author(s) (2019). The AII amacrine cell: dendritic morphology optimized for simultaneous local and global synaptic integration.
Show author(s) (2019). Pharmacological characterization of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors on retinal amacrine cells .
Show author(s) (2019). Multiphoton excitation microscopy for the reconstruction and analysis of single neuron morphology . 34 pages.
Show author(s) (2019). Multiphoton Microscopy. Springer Nature.
Show author(s) (2019). Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells: molecular composition, activation, and signaling. Journal of Neuroscience. 627-650.
Show author(s) (2019). Different sources of glutamate activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in the rod pathway microcircuit of the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2019). Compartmental models of bipolar cells in rat retina developed from quantitative morphological reconstructions.
Show author(s) (2019). Combining Multiphoton Excitation Microscopy with Fast Microiontophoresis to Investigate Neuronal Signaling. 29 pages.
Show author(s) (2019). Capacitance measurement of dendritic exocytosis in an electrically coupled inhibitory retinal interneuron: an experimental and computational study. Physiological Reports. 29 pages.
Show author(s) (2019). Activating extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on interneurons of the rod pathway microcircuit in the mammalian retina.

Show author(s) (2018). Functional properties of GABAA receptors on rod amacrine (AII and A17) cells of the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2018). Exo- and endocytosis at a retinal inhibitory synapse during crossover inhibition.
Show author(s) (2018). Exo- and endocytosis at a retinal inhibititory synapse during crossover inhibition.
Show author(s) (2018). Electrotonic signal processing in AII amacrine cells: compartmental models and passive membrane properties for a gap junction-coupled retinal neuron. Brain Structure and Function. 3383-3410.

Show author(s) (2017). Semi-automatic 3D morphological reconstruction of neurons with densely branching morphology: Application to retinal AII amacrine cells imaged with multi-photon excitation microscopy. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 101-118.
Show author(s) (2017). Netthinnen / Retina.
Show author(s) (2017). Morphological reconstruction and passive cable modeling: getting it all right!
Show author(s) (2017). Fast and dynamic regulation of electrical synapses in the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2017). Exo- and endocytosis in an inhibitory neuron of the retina.
Show author(s) (2017). AMPA receptors at ribbon synapses of AII amacrine cells in the mammalian retina: kinetic models and molecular identity.
Show author(s) (2017). AMPA receptors at ribbon synapses in the mammalian retina: kinetic models and molecular identity. Brain Structure and Function. 769-804.
Show author(s) (2017). AII amacrine cells: quantitative reconstruction and morphometric analysis of electrophysiologically identified cells in live rat retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation microscopy. Brain Structure and Function. 151-182.

Show author(s) (2016). Quantitative morphological reconstruction and analysis of dye-filled AII amacrine cells in retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy.
Show author(s) (2016). Patch-clamp measurements and data analysis.
Show author(s) (2016). NMDA receptors and regulation of electrical synapses between retinal amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2016). Functional NMDA receptors are expressed by both AII and A17 amacrine cells in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. Journal of Neurophysiology. 389-403.
Show author(s) (2016). Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2016). Dynamic and integrative properties of bipolar cells in the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2016). Developing passive compartmental models of AII amacrine cells by combined multi-photon excitation microscopy and electrophysiogical recording.
Show author(s) (2016). Detailed passive models of retinal AII amacrine cells based on simultaneous electrophysiology and multiphoton excitation microscopy.

Show author(s) (2015). Quantitative morphological reconstruction and analysis of dye-filled AII amacrine cells in retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy.
Show author(s) (2015). NMDA receptors in rod pathway amacrine cells in the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2015). Modulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2015). Inhibitory inputs to A17 amacrine cells in the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2015). Fast and dynamic regulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2015). Expression, activation and subunit composition of NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2015). Disruption of a neural microcircuit in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina by diabetes mellitus. Journal of Neuroscience. 5422-5433.
Show author(s) (2015). Diabetic hyperglycemia reduces Ca2+ permeability of extrasynaptic AMPA receptors. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1545-1553.
Show author(s) (2015). Diabetic hyperglycemia reduces Ca2+ permeability of AMPA receptors expressed by AII amacrine cells.

Show author(s) (2014). Using multi-photon excitation microscopy for neural reconstruction and morphometric analysis.
Show author(s) (2014). Functional properties of NMDA receptors on AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2014). Functional consequences of diabetic hyperglycemia in the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2014). Diabetes disrupts an inhibitory microcircuit in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2014). Activation and functional consequences of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on AII amacrine cells of the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2014). AII amacrine cells: Quantitative reconstruction and morphometric analysis.
Show author(s) (2014). A Retinal Microcircuit in Health and Disease.

Show author(s) (2013). Quantitative reconstruction and morphological analysis of AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2013). Feedback mechanisms of rod bipolar cells in the healthy and diseased retina.
Show author(s) (2013). Databasing the retina: Quantitative reconstruction and morphological analysis of AII amacrine cells.

Show author(s) (2012). Modulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2012). Electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells in the retina: Function and modulation. Brain Research. 160-172.

Show author(s) (2011). Segmentation and reconstruction of neurons for simulation of signal transmission.
Show author(s) (2011). Developing computational models of neurons with electrical synapses using multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording.
Show author(s) (2011). Combining multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording to develop computational models of electrically-coupled AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2011). Combining multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording to develop computational models of electrically coupled AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2011). Calcium channel dynamics limit synaptic release in response to prosthetic stimulation with sinusoidal waveforms. Journal of Neural Engineering. 19 pages.

Show author(s) (2010). Transient release kinetics of rod bipolar cells revealed by capacitance measurement of exocytosis from axon terminals in rat retinal slices. Journal of Physiology. 1469-1487.
Show author(s) (2010). Electrical coupling and passive membrane properties of AII amacrine cells. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1456-1466.
Show author(s) (2010). Animal cells connected by nanotubes can be electrically coupled through interposed gap-junction channels. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 17194-17199.
Show author(s) (2010). Accurate measurement of junctional conductance between electrically coupled cells with dual whole-cell voltage-clamp under conditions of high series resistance. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 13-25.

Show author(s) (2009). Properties of glycine receptors underlying synaptic currents in presynaptic axon terminals of rod bipolar cells in the rat retina. Journal of Physiology. 3813-3830.
Show author(s) (2009). Passive membrane properties of AII amacrine cells.
Show author(s) (2009). Passive membrane properties and electrotonic signal processing in retinal rod bipolar cells. Journal of Physiology. 829-849.
Show author(s) (2009). Meclofenamic acid blocks electrical synapses of retinal AII amacrine and ON-cone bipolar cells. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2339-2347.

Show author(s) (2008). GABA receptors on AII amacrine cells in rat retina.
Show author(s) (2008). Electrical Synapses Between AII Amacrine Cells: Dynamic Range and Functional Consequences of Variation in Junctional Conductance. Journal of Neurophysiology. 3305-3322.

Show author(s) (2007). Unique glycine receptor properties differentially shape glycinergic input to interneurons in the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2007). Studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous postsynaptic currents and agonist-evoked responses in outside-out patches. Nature Protocols. 434-448.
Show author(s) (2007). Spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors with slow kinetics in wide-field amacrine cells in the mature rat retina. Journal of Physiology. 203-219.
Show author(s) (2007). Regulation of synaptic transmission through presynaptic glutamate transporters.
Show author(s) (2007). Patch clamp investigations and compartmental modeling of rod bipolar axon terminals in an in vitro thin slice preparation of the mammalian retina. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1171-1187.

Show author(s) (2006). Studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous synaptic currents. Journal of Physiology. 751-785.
Show author(s) (2006). Functional properties of spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors in rod amacrine (AII) cells in the rat retina. Journal of Physiology. 739-759.
Show author(s) (2006). Artificial electrical synapses in networks of AII (rod) amacrine cells in rat retina.
Show author(s) (2006). Activation of a presynaptic glutamate transporter regulates synaptic transmission through electrical signaling. Nature Neuroscience. 1388-1396.

Show author(s) (2005). Electrical Synaptic Transmission: Molecular determinants, properties, and plasticity.

Show author(s) (2004). Glutamate spillover from rod bipolar cell terminals activates a glutamate transporter in neighboring bipolar cells: A possible mechanism for short-range lateral inhibition.

Show author(s) (2003). Functional properties of spontaneous EPSCs and non-NMDA receptors in rod amacrine (AII) cells in the rat retina. Journal of Physiology. 759-774.

Show author(s) (2002). Functional properties of electrical synapses between AII(rod) amacrine cells in the mammalian retina.
Show author(s) (2002). Functional characteristics of non-NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor channels in AII amacrine cells in rat retina. Journal of Physiology. 147-165.
Show author(s) (2002). Electrical synapses mediate signal transmission in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. Journal of Neuroscience. 10558-10566.
Show author(s) (2002). AII amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled interneurons.
Show author(s) (2002). AII (rod) amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled interneurons in the mammalian retina. Neuron. 935-946.

Show author(s) (2001). Functional characteristics of non-NMDA-type glutamate receptor channels in AII amacrine cells of the rat retina.
Show author(s) (2001). AII amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled neurons in the retina.

Show author(s) (1999). Reciprocal synaptic interactions between rod bipolar cells and amacrine cells in the rat retina. Journal of Neurophysiology. 2923-2936.

Show author(s) (1998). Roles of NMDA receptors in ocular dominance plasticity in developing visual cortex: a re-evaluation. Neuroscience. 687-700.
Show author(s) (1998). Reciprocal synaptic transmission between rod bipolar cells and A17 amacrine cells.

Show author(s) (1995). Brainstem modulation of signal transmission through the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Experimental Brain Research. 372-384.

Show author(s) (1994). Variability of the response to visual stimuli in single cells of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1278-1289.

Show author(s) (1993). The effect of acetylcholine on the visual response of lagged cells in the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Experimental Brain Research. 443-449.
Show author(s) (1993). Brainstem modulation of spatial receptive field properties of single cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1644-1655.
Show author(s) (1993). Brain stem influence on visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. Visual Neuroscience. 325-339.

Show author(s) (1992). The effect of contrast on the visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. Visual Neuroscience. 515-525.
Show author(s) (1992). Effects of acetylcholine on the visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Abstracts - Society for Neuroscience. 142.
Show author(s) (1992). Brainstem peribrachial influence on the receptive field structure of cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Abstracts - Society for Neuroscience. 213.

Show author(s) (1991). The effect of brainstem peribrachial stimulation on the contrast-response properties of cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. Abstracts - Society for Neuroscience. 710.

Show author(s) (1990). Neurotransmitter receptors mediating excitatory input to cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. II. Non-lagged cells. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1361-1372.
Show author(s) (1990). Neurotransmitter receptors mediating excitatory input to cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. I. Lagged cells. Journal of Neurophysiology. 1347-1360.
Show author(s) (1990). Brainstem modulation of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. Abstracts - Society for Neuroscience. 159.

Show author(s) (1989). Lagged and non-lagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus receive retinal input through different glutamate receptors. Abstracts - Society for Neuroscience. 175.
Show author(s) (1989). Do NMDA receptors account for cortical plasticity in kittens? Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 377.