Identification of 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunits in mammalian retinae: potential pre-synaptic modulators of photoreceptors

Although serotonin (5-HT) is found in the mammalian retina only at low levels, considerable evidence suggests that it plays a role in visual processing. Pharmacological experiments indicate that numerous receptors for 5-HT are present in the mammalian retina. One of these is the ionotropic 5-HT₃ receptor. So far, two subunits for this receptor have been identified in the nervous system, 5-HT_3A and 5-HT_3B. Co-expression of these subunits in Xenopus oocytes is sufficient to reconstitute native 5-HT₃ receptor properties. Thus, it is believed that a native neuronal 5-HT₃ receptor is multimeric similar to the related acetylcholine receptor family. To determine whether this receptor is expressed in the mammalian retina, we first performed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and first demonstrated the presence of transcripts for both the 5-HT_3A and 5-HT_3B receptor subunits. Then using a well-characterized polyclonal antiserum against the 5-HT_3A receptor subunit, we demonstrated 5-HT_3A receptor immunoreactivity (IR) in the rabbit, rat, and human retina. This IR was localized specifically to the rod photoreceptor terminals in all three species, suggesting that this receptor may modulate the rod signaling pathway by controlling the output at the rod terminals.