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Spatially patterned gradients of synaptic connectivity are established early in the developing retina

Susana Cohen-Cory

Author Affiliations

Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 2205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

Journal of Biology 2008, 7:15 doi:10.1186/jbiol76

Published: 9 June 2008

Abstract

Retinal neurons receive input from other cells via synapses and the position of these synapses on the neurons reflects the retinal regions from which information is received. A new study in Neural Development establishes that the spatial distribution of excitatory synaptic inputs emerges at the onset of synapse formation rather than as a result of changes during neuronal reorganisation.