Abstract
Purpose:
Converging evidence suggests that large- and intermediate-scale neural networks throughout the nervous system exhibit "small world" design, characterized by high local clustering of connections yet short path length between neuronal modules (Watts & Strogatz, 1998 Nature; Sporns et al., 2004 Trends in Cog Sci). It is suspected that this organizing principle scales to local networks (Ganmor et al., 2011 J Neurosci; Sporns, 2006 BioSystems), but direct observation of synapses and local network topologies mediating small world design has not been achieved in any neuronal tissue. We sought direct evidence for synaptic and topological substrates that instantiate small world network architectures in the ON inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the rabbit retina. To test this, we mined ≈ 200 ON cone bipolar cells (BCs), and ≈ 500 inhibitory amacrine cell (AC) processes in the ultrastructural rabbit retinal connectome (RC1).
Methods:
BC networks in RC1 were annotated with the Viking viewer, and explored via graph visualization of connectivity and 3D rendering (Anderson et al., 2011 J Microscopy). Small molecule signals embedded in RC1, e.g. GABA, glycine, and L-glutamate, combined with morphological reconstruction and connectivity analysis allow for robust cell classification. MacNeil et al. (2004 J Comp Neurol) BC classification scheme used for clarity.
Results:
Homocellular BC coupling (CBb3::CBb3, CBb4::CBb4, CBb5::CBb5) and within-class BC inhibitory networks (CBb3 → AC --| CBb3, CBb4 → AC --| CBb4, CBb5 → AC --| CBb5) in each ON IPL strata form laminar-specific functional sheets with high clustering coefficients. Heterocellular BC coupling (CBb3::CBb4, CBb4::CBb5, CBb3::CBb5) and cross-class BC inhibitory networks (CBb3 → AC --| CBb4, CBb4 → AC --| CBb3, CBb4 → AC --| CBb5, CBb5 → AC --| CBb4, CBb3 → AC --| CBb5, CBb5 → AC --| CBb3) establish short synaptic path lengths across all ON IPL laminae.
Conclusions:
The retina contains a greater than expected number of synaptic hubs that multiplex parallel channels presynaptic to ganglion cells. The results validate a synaptic basis (ie. direct synaptic connectivity) and local network topology for the small world architecture indicated at larger scales, providing neuroanatomical plausibility of this organization for local networks, and are consistent with small world design as a fundamental organizing principle of neural networks on multiple spatial scales.
Keywords: 693 retinal connections, networks, circuitry •
691 retina: proximal (bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells) •
435 bipolar cells