December 2002
Volume 43, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   December 2002
Two Types of Cholineacetyl Transferase-IR Amacrine Cells are Found in the Vertebrate Retina
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • HE Kolb
    Ophthalmology Eye Moran Center University of Utah Salt Lake City UT
  • E de Juan
    University of Alicante Alicante Spain
    Physiology Genetics Microbiology
  • A Angulo
    Optics
    University of Alicante Alicante Spain
  • N Cuenca
    Biotechnology
    University of Alicante Alicante Spain
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   H.E. Kolb, None; E. de Juan, None; A. Angulo, None; N. Cuenca, None. Grant Identification: Supported by DGESIC PB-98-0972 and by Research to Prevent Bllndness.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 2002, Vol.43, 2779. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      HE Kolb, E de Juan, A Angulo, N Cuenca; Two Types of Cholineacetyl Transferase-IR Amacrine Cells are Found in the Vertebrate Retina . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2002;43(13):2779.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:Acetylcholine (ACh) is commonly associated with "starburst" amacrine cells in the vertebrate retina. This mirror-symmetric pair of cells is involved in laying down the architecture of the IPL during development and in circuitry underlying directional selectivity. A second type of ACh-containing cell type has been described in some retinas. We sought further for such ACh2 cell types in other vertebrate retinas. Methods:Wholemount and cryostat retinas of different species (salamander, turtle, chicken, rat, hamster, octodon, cow, cat, monkey and human) have been immunostained with antibodies against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), calretinin (CR), calbindin (CB), parvalbumin (PV), GABA and Glycine. Double label immunofluorescence was used to visualize the co-existence of the various immunostains by confocal microscopy. Results:In all species, two ChAT-IR amacrine cells populations were revealed. The one population consisted of the typical "starburst" mirror-symmetric pair of cells occurring in the INL and the GCL with dendritic branching in sublamina a and b respectively of the IPL. In carp, turtle, chicken, squirrel, cat, cow, monkey and human, a second, smaller cell-bodied type of ChAT-IR amacrine was also observed. We call these ChAT2 cells. ChAT2 cells sit high in the INL, above the typical starburst cells and have long dendritic processes ending in stratum 3 of the IPL. ChAT1 starburst amacrine cells colocalize GABA, but in contrast, ChAT2 cells colocalize glycine. Conclusion:Starburst amacrine cells are not the sole amacrine cell type that expresses acetylcholine in the vertebrate retina. Since ChAT2 amacrine cells colocalize glycine instead of GABA, a novel combination of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters will have to be accounted for in retinal circuitry. Supported by DGESIC PB-98-0972 and by Research to Prevent Bllndness.

Keywords: 305 acetylcholine • 312 amacrine cells • 434 immunohistochemistry 
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