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

2022

• Pablo Beltran Matas; Aurea Castilho; Barbora Tencer et al. (2022). Inhibitory inputs to an inhibitory interneuron: Spontaneous postsynaptic currents and GABA<inf>A</inf> receptors of A17 amacrine cells in the rat retina. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; David Olukoya Peter; Maren Sofie Faldalen Guttormsen et al. (2022). The mosaic of AII amacrine cell bodies in rat retina is indistinguishable from a random distribution. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki; Bas-Jan Zandt (2022). Dendritic morphology of an inhibitory retinal interneuron enables simultaneous local and global synaptic integration. (external link)
• Rémi Fournel; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2022). Digital reconstruction and quantitative morphometric analysis of bipolar cells in live rat retinal slices. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; David Olukoya Peter; Maren Sofie Faldalen Guttormsen et al. (2022). The mosaic of AII amacrine cell bodies in rat retina is indistinguishable from a random distribution. (external link)

2014

• Espen Hartveit (2014). A Retinal Microcircuit in Health and Disease. (external link)
• Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit et al. (2014). Activation and functional consequences of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on AII amacrine cells of the rat retina. (external link)
• Aurea Castilho; Antonio F Ambrosio; Espen Hartveit et al. (2014). Functional consequences of diabetic hyperglycemia in the rat retina. (external link)
• Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit et al. (2014). Functional properties of NMDA receptors on AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; John Georg Riisdal; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2014). AII amacrine cells: Quantitative reconstruction and morphometric analysis. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; John Georg Riisdal; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2014). Using multi-photon excitation microscopy for neural reconstruction and morphometric analysis. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Aurea Castilho; Antonio F Ambrosio et al. (2014). Diabetes disrupts an inhibitory microcircuit in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. (external link)

2005

• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2005). Electrical Synaptic Transmission: Molecular determinants, properties, and plasticity. (external link)

1999

• Espen Hartveit (1999). Reciprocal synaptic interactions between rod bipolar cells and amacrine cells in the rat retina. (external link)

2024

• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2024). Developing kinetic models of hyperpolarization-activated cation channels in bipolar cells of rat retina. (external link)
• Alexander Opdahl; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2024). Compartmental modeling of AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2024). Modulating excitability of the AII amacrine cell. (external link)

2007

• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2007). Studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous postsynaptic currents and agonist-evoked responses in outside-out patches. (external link)
• Leif Oltedal; Svein Harald Mørkve; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2007). Patch clamp investigations and compartmental modeling of rod bipolar axon terminals in an in vitro thin slice preparation of the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Silje Bakken Gill; Espen Hartveit (2007). Spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors with slow kinetics in wide-field amacrine cells in the mature rat retina. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Silje Bakken Gill; Espen Hartveit (2007). Unique glycine receptor properties differentially shape glycinergic input to interneurons in the rat retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2007). Regulation of synaptic transmission through presynaptic glutamate transporters. (external link)

2018

• Pablo Beltran Matas; Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit et al. (2018). Functional properties of GABAA receptors on rod amacrine (AII and A17) cells of the rat retina. (external link)
• Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2018). Electrotonic signal processing in AII amacrine cells: compartmental models and passive membrane properties for a gap junction-coupled retinal neuron. (external link)
• Marc Meadows; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit et al. (2018). Exo- and endocytosis at a retinal inhibitory synapse during crossover inhibition. (external link)
• Marc Meadows; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit et al. (2018). Exo- and endocytosis at a retinal inhibititory synapse during crossover inhibition. (external link)

1990

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1990). Brainstem modulation of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)
• Paul Heggelund; Espen Hartveit (1990). Neurotransmitter receptors mediating excitatory input to cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. I. Lagged cells. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1990). Neurotransmitter receptors mediating excitatory input to cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. II. Non-lagged cells. (external link)

1998

• T. Kasamatsu; K. Imamura; N. Mataga et al. (1998). Roles of NMDA receptors in ocular dominance plasticity in developing visual cortex: a re-evaluation. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (1998). Reciprocal synaptic transmission between rod bipolar cells and A17 amacrine cells. (external link)

2025

• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2025). Capacitance Measurements of Exocytosis From AII Amacrine Cells in Retinal Slices. (external link)
• Matteo Stefano Luppi; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2025). Can single action potentials in the axonless retinal AII amacrine cell drive output at chemical synapses?. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Jian Hao Liu; Jeet Bahadur Singh et al. (2025). Activation of Dopamine D1 Receptors at the Axon Initial Segment-Like Process of Retinal AII Amacrine Cells Modulates Action Potential Firing. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki; Aurea Castilho et al. (2025). HCN channels in rod bipolar cells of rat retina: subcellular localization, kinetic properties and functional dynamics. (external link)

2006

• Margaret Lin Veruki; Svein Harald Mørkve; Espen Hartveit (2006). Activation of a presynaptic glutamate transporter regulates synaptic transmission through electrical signaling. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2006). Artificial electrical synapses in networks of AII (rod) amacrine cells in rat retina. (external link)
• Silje Bakken Gill; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2006). Functional properties of spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors in rod amacrine (AII) cells in the rat retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2006). Studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous synaptic currents. (external link)

2017

• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki (2017). AMPA receptors at ribbon synapses of AII amacrine cells in the mammalian retina: kinetic models and molecular identity. (external link)
• Rémi Fournel; Espen Hartveit; ITN H2020 SwitchBoard et al. (2017). Netthinnen / Retina. (external link)
• Marc Meadows; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit et al. (2017). Exo- and endocytosis in an inhibitory neuron of the retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2017). Fast and dynamic regulation of electrical synapses in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2017). Morphological reconstruction and passive cable modeling: getting it all right!. (external link)
• Bas-Jan Zandt; Jian Hao Liu; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2017). AII amacrine cells: quantitative reconstruction and morphometric analysis of electrophysiologically identified cells in live rat retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation microscopy. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Eirik Madsen et al. (2017). AMPA receptors at ribbon synapses in the mammalian retina: kinetic models and molecular identity. (external link)
• Bas-Jan Zandt; Are Losnegård; Erlend Hodneland et al. (2017). Semi-automatic 3D morphological reconstruction of neurons with densely branching morphology: Application to retinal AII amacrine cells imaged with multi-photon excitation microscopy. (external link)

2009

• Svein Harald Mørkve; Espen Hartveit (2009). Properties of glycine receptors underlying synaptic currents in presynaptic axon terminals of rod bipolar cells in the rat retina. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Leif Oltedal; Espen Hartveit (2009). Passive membrane properties of AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Leif Oltedal; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2009). Passive membrane properties and electrotonic signal processing in retinal rod bipolar cells. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2009). Meclofenamic acid blocks electrical synapses of retinal AII amacrine and ON-cone bipolar cells. (external link)

2013

• John Georg Riisdal; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2013). Quantitative reconstruction and morphological analysis of AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Aurea Castilho; Eirik Madsen et al. (2013). Feedback mechanisms of rod bipolar cells in the healthy and diseased retina. (external link)
• John Georg Riisdal; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2013). Databasing the retina: Quantitative reconstruction and morphological analysis of AII amacrine cells. (external link)

2010

• Margaret Lin Veruki; Leif Oltedal; Espen Hartveit (2010). Electrical coupling and passive membrane properties of AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Xiang Wang; Margaret Lin Veruki; Nickolay V Bukoreshtliev et al. (2010). Animal cells connected by nanotubes can be electrically coupled through interposed gap-junction channels. (external link)
• Leif Oltedal; Espen Hartveit (2010). Transient release kinetics of rod bipolar cells revealed by capacitance measurement of exocytosis from axon terminals in rat retinal slices. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2010). Accurate measurement of junctional conductance between electrically coupled cells with dual whole-cell voltage-clamp under conditions of high series resistance. (external link)

2011

• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2011). Developing computational models of neurons with electrical synapses using multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2011). Combining multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording to develop computational models of electrically-coupled AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Are Losnegård; Antonella Zanna Munthe-Kaas; Espen Hartveit et al. (2011). Segmentation and reconstruction of neurons for simulation of signal transmission. (external link)
• Daniel K Freeman; Jed S Jeng; Shawn K Kelly et al. (2011). Calcium channel dynamics limit synaptic release in response to prosthetic stimulation with sinusoidal waveforms. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2011). Combining multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and electrophysiological recording to develop computational models of electrically coupled AII amacrine cells. (external link)

2019

• Espen Hartveit (2019). Multiphoton Microscopy. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki (2019). The AII amacrine cell: dendritic morphology optimized for simultaneous local and global synaptic integration. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki; Bas-Jan Zandt (2019). Capacitance measurement of dendritic exocytosis in an electrically coupled inhibitory retinal interneuron: an experimental and computational study. (external link)
• Rémi Fournel; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2019). Compartmental models of bipolar cells in rat retina developed from quantitative morphological reconstructions. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2019). Why does an axon-less interneuron in the retina fire action potentials?. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Pablo Beltran Matas; Espen Hartveit (2019). Activating extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on interneurons of the rod pathway microcircuit in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Pablo Beltran Matas; Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit et al. (2019). Pharmacological characterization of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors on retinal amacrine cells. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; Jeet Bahadur Singh; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2019). Why does an axon-less interneuron in the retina fire action potentials?. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho et al. (2019). Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells: molecular composition, activation, and signaling. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2019). Combining Multiphoton Excitation Microscopy with Fast Microiontophoresis to Investigate Neuronal Signaling. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki (2019). Multiphoton excitation microscopy for the reconstruction and analysis of single neuron morphology. (external link)
• Pablo Beltran Matas; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2019). Different sources of glutamate activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in the rod pathway microcircuit of the mammalian retina. (external link)

2015

• Margaret Lin Veruki; Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho et al. (2015). Expression, activation and subunit composition of NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells. (external link)
• Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit et al. (2015). NMDA receptors in rod pathway amacrine cells in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Barbora Tencerova; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2015). Fast and dynamic regulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Aurea Castilho; Eirik Madsen; António F. Ambrósio et al. (2015). Diabetic hyperglycemia reduces Ca2+ permeability of extrasynaptic AMPA receptors. (external link)
• Aurea Castilho; António F. Ambrósio; Espen Hartveit et al. (2015). Disruption of a neural microcircuit in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina by diabetes mellitus. (external link)
• Eirik Madsen; Espen Hartveit (2015). Diabetic hyperglycemia reduces Ca2+ permeability of AMPA receptors expressed by AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Aurea Castilho; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2015). Inhibitory inputs to A17 amacrine cells in the rat retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Jian Hao Liu et al. (2015). Quantitative morphological reconstruction and analysis of dye-filled AII amacrine cells in retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2015). Modulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells. (external link)

2021

• Jian Hao Liu; Jeet Bahadur Singh; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2021). Morphological properties of the axon initial segment-like process of AII amacrine cells in the rat retina. (external link)
• Pablo Beltran Matas; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2021). Different glutamate sources and endogenous co-agonists activate extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on amacrine cells of the rod pathway microcircuit. (external link)

1989

• Takuji Kasamatsu; Kazuyuki Imamura; Espen Hartveit et al. (1989). Do NMDA receptors account for cortical plasticity in kittens?. (external link)
• Paul Heggelund; Espen Hartveit (1989). Lagged and non-lagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus receive retinal input through different glutamate receptors. (external link)

2016

• Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2016). Detailed passive models of retinal AII amacrine cells based on simultaneous electrophysiology and multiphoton excitation microscopy. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2016). NMDA receptors and regulation of electrical synapses between retinal amacrine cells. (external link)
• Margaret Lin Veruki; Yifan Zhou; Aurea Castilho et al. (2016). Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on rod pathway amacrine cells. (external link)
• Rémi Fournel; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2016). Dynamic and integrative properties of bipolar cells in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki (2016). Developing passive compartmental models of AII amacrine cells by combined multi-photon excitation microscopy and electrophysiogical recording. (external link)
• Yifan Zhou; Barbora Tencerova; Espen Hartveit et al. (2016). Functional NMDA receptors are expressed by both AII and A17 amacrine cells in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2016). Patch-clamp measurements and data analysis. (external link)
• Jian Hao Liu; Bas-Jan Zandt; Margaret Lin Veruki et al. (2016). Quantitative morphological reconstruction and analysis of dye-filled AII amacrine cells in retinal slices imaged with multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy. (external link)

2002

• Svein Harald Mørkve; Margaret Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2002). Functional characteristics of non-NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor channels in AII amacrine cells in rat retina. (external link)
• Margaret Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2002). AII amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled interneurons. (external link)
• Margaret Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2002). AII (rod) amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled interneurons in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Veruki (2002). Functional properties of electrical synapses between AII(rod) amacrine cells in the mammalian retina. (external link)
• Margaret Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2002). Electrical synapses mediate signal transmission in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. (external link)

1992

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1992). The effect of contrast on the visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)
• Paul Heggelund; Espen Hartveit; Stein Ramberg (1992). Brainstem peribrachial influence on the receptive field structure of cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1992). Effects of acetylcholine on the visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. (external link)

1993

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund; SI Ramberg (1993). Brainstem modulation of spatial receptive field properties of single cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1993). The effect of acetylcholine on the visual response of lagged cells in the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1993). Brain stem influence on visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)

1991

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1991). The effect of brainstem peribrachial stimulation on the contrast-response properties of cells in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)

2012

• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2012). Modulation of electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2012). Electrical synapses between AII amacrine cells in the retina: Function and modulation. (external link)

2020

• Pablo Beltran Matas; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2020). Different mechanisms of activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in a retinal microcircuit. (external link)
• Rémi Fournel; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2020). Differential contribution of gap junctions to the membrane properties of ON- and OFF-bipolar cells of the rat retina. (external link)

2001

• Margaret Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2001). AII amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled neurons in the retina. (external link)
• Espen Hartveit (2001). Functional characteristics of non-NMDA-type glutamate receptor channels in AII amacrine cells of the rat retina. (external link)

2023

• Pablo Beltran Matas; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2023). Functional properties of GABA<inf>A</inf> receptors of AII amacrine cells of the rat retina. (external link)

2008

• Margaret Lin Veruki; Leif Oltedal; Espen Hartveit (2008). Electrical Synapses Between AII Amacrine Cells: Dynamic Range and Functional Consequences of Variation in Junctional Conductance. (external link)
• Harald Nils Øyra; Espen Hartveit; Margaret Lin Veruki (2008). GABA receptors on AII amacrine cells in rat retina. (external link)

1994

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1994). Variability of the response to visual stimuli in single cells of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. (external link)

1995

• Espen Hartveit; Paul Heggelund (1995). Brainstem modulation of signal transmission through the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. (external link)

2004

• Margareth Veruki; Espen Hartveit (2004). Glutamate spillover from rod bipolar cell terminals activates a glutamate transporter in neighboring bipolar cells: A possible mechanism for short-range lateral inhibition. (external link)

2003

• Margaret Veruki; Svein Harald Mørkve; Espen Hartveit (2003). Functional properties of spontaneous EPSCs and non-NMDA receptors in rod amacrine (AII) cells in the rat retina. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.