Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study Cebus rod bipolar cells using anti-PKCα - immunocytochemistry. Methods: Retinas from adult Cebus monkeys were used in this study. After removing the eyes, the retinas were dissected out, fixed by immersion with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB), and cryoprotected in 30% sucrose in PB. Vertical (20 µm thick) and horizontal (50 µm thick) sections were obtained and processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-PKCα and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Rod bipolar cells were identified by their characteristic dendritic and axonal morphology. Cell counts were performed in horizontal sections at 1 mm intervals in the vertical and horizontal retinal meridians in order to estimate spatial densities. Results: In the vertical sections, PKCα-immunoreactivity (IR) was restricted to the inner nuclear layer; no labeling was observed in the outer nuclear layer and in the ganglion cell layer. Immunoreactivity was restricted to cell bodies, dendritic branches, and axon terminals of rod bipolar cells. The plexus of PKCα-IR axon terminals ramifies in ‘a" and "b" sublaminas of the inner plexiform layer. The density of rod bipolar cells increases from 1023/mm2 in the central region to 5233-7736 at 4-5 mm of eccentricity, and then fall more gradually to the retinal periphery. Density peaks at 13766/mm2 4 mm from fovea. Conclusions: Cebus rod bipolar cells have morphology and density similar to what has been described in other primates (Grünert et al., J. Comp. Neurol 348: 607, 1994).
Keywords: bipolar cells • immunohistochemistry • retina: proximal(bipolar, amacrine, and gangli