Cholinergic amacrine cells of the rabbit retina contain glutamate decarboxylase and gamma-aminobutyrate immunoreactivity (original) (raw)
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Cholinergic amacrine cells of the rat retina express the δ-subunit of the GABAA-receptor
Neuroscience Letters, 1993
Antibodies directed against the ~-subunit of the GABA~,-receptor were applied to cryostat sections of rat retinae. Two narrow bands of the inner plexiform layer were strongly immunoreactive. Some cell bodies in both the amacrine-and ganglion-cell layer were weakly immunoreactive. The position of the labelled bands and the distribution of the cell bodies was strongly reminiscent of the cholinergic amacrine cells. In order to show directly that cholinergic amacrine cells express the 6-subunit of the GABAA-receptor, double immunofluorescence with an antibody against choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) and with antibodies against the ~-subunit was performed on the same cryostat sections. This showed the labelled cells to be cholinergic amacrine cells.
Immunocytochemical staining of cholinergic amacrine cells in rabbit retina
Brain Research, 1987
Cholinergic neurons of rabbit retina were labelled with an antibody against choline acetyltransferase, the synthesizing enzyme for acetylcholine. Two populations of cells are immunoreactive. Type a cell bodies lie in the inner nuclear layer (INL), their dendrites branching narrowly in sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), while type b cell bodies lie in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) with dendrites branching in sublamina b of the IPL. The irregular networks of clustered immunoreactive dendrites are similar, but not identical, in the two sublaminae. Type b cells are more numerous than type a cells in central retina. No axons were stained. It appears that the immunoreactive neurons are normally placed and displaced starburst/cholinergic amacrine ceils.
Identification of Amacrine Neurons with a Glycinergic and Gabaergic Phenotype in the Mouse Retina
Medical Research Archives, 2022
The amacrine neurons in the mammalian retina comprise a large variety of cell types with distinct properties and functions that serve to integrate and modulate signals presented to output neurons. The majority of them use either glycine or GABA as inhibitory neurotransmitters and express the glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and GABA transporters (GAT1 and GAT3), as a glycinergic or GABAergic marker respectively. We report here a novel subpopulation of amacrine neurons expressing both, GABAergic and glycinergic markers, in retinas from wild-type C57BL/6J mice and two transgenic lines. In retinal sections from the transgenic line expressing eGFP under the control of the glycine transporter 2, eGFP expression was exclusively found in cell bodies and dendrites of inhibitory amacrine neurons, identified for their immunoreactivity to syntaxin 1A. All of the glycinergic and a large portion of the GABAergic amacrine neurons contained eGFP; of these, 8-10%...
The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2005
Although many effects of GABA on retinal function have been attributed to GABA A and GABA C receptors, specific retinal functions have also been shown to be mediated by GABA B receptors, including facilitation of light-evoked acetylcholine release from the rabbit retina (Neal and Cunningham, 1995). To explain the results of a rich set of experiments, Neal and Cunningham proposed a model for this facilitation. In this model, GABA B-receptor-mediated inhibition of glycinergic cells would reduce their own inhibition of cholinergic cells. In turn, muscarinic input from the latter to the glycinergic cells would complete a negative-feedback circuitry. In this paper, we use immunohistochemical techniques to test elements of this model. We report that glycinergic amacrine cells are GABA B-receptor negative. In contrast, our data reveal the localization of GABA B receptors on cholinergic/GABAergic starburst amacrine cells. High-resolution localization of GABA B receptors on starburst amacrine cells shows that they are discretely localized to a limited population of its varicosities, with the majority of likely synaptic-release sites being devoid of detectable levels of GABA B receptors. Finally, we identify a glycinergic cell that is a potential muscarinic-receptor-bearing target of GABA B-modulated acetylcholine release. This target is the DAPI-3 cell. Based on these data, we propose a modification of the Neal-and-Cunningham model in which GABA B receptors are on starburst not glycinergic amacrine cells.
The Journal of neuroscience, 1996
Cholinergic regulation of the activity of rabbit retinal ganglion cells and displaced amacrine cells was investigated using optical recording of changes in intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2ϩ ] i). Labeling of neurons in the mature retina was achieved by injecting calcium green-1 dextran (CaGD) into the isolated retina. Nicotine increased ganglion cell [Ca 2ϩ ] i , affecting every loaded cell in some preparations; the pharmacology of nicotine was consistent with an action at neuronal nicotinic receptors, and specifically it was-(neuronal-)bungarotoxin-sensitive but ␣-bungarotoxin-insensitive. Muscarine also raised [Ca 2ϩ ] i , but it was less potent than nicotine, affecting only a subpopulation of ganglion cells, with an M1-like muscarinic receptor pharmacology. Neither the nicotine-nor muscarine-induced increases of ganglion cell [Ca 2ϩ ] i were blocked by the glutamate receptor antagonists 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and aminophosphonopentanoic acid. Therefore, the effects of cholinergic ago-nists on ganglion cell [Ca 2ϩ ] i were not attributable to an indirect effect mediated by glutamatergic bipolar cells. The effects of nicotine and muscarine were abolished in calcium-free solution, indicating that the responses depend on calcium influx. Displaced (Cb) cholinergic amacrine cells were also loaded with CaGD and were identified by selective labeling with the nuclear dye 4Ј,6-diamidino-2-phenyl-indole. Cb amacrine cells did not respond to either nicotine or muscarine, but responded vigorously to the glutamate receptor agonist kainic acid. There is anatomical evidence indicating that cholinergic amacrine cells make synaptic contact with each other, but the present results do not support the hypothesis that communication between these cells is cholinergic.
Choline acetyltransferase is expressed by non-starburst amacrine cells in the ground squirrel retina
Brain Research, 2003
We have used immunostaining techniques to reveal a new type of amacrine cell that is immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, in the Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) retina. Cryostat sections and double immunostained wholemount preparations were examined by confocal microscopy. This new ChAT type III cell is distinct in morphology and neurotransmitter content from the well know 'starburst' amacrine cells (types I and II) that are so well represented in the ground squirrel retina [J. Comp. Neurol. 365 (1996) 173-216]. The type III cell colocalizes glycine with the acetylcholine and does not appear to be GABAergic or exhibit calcium-binding proteins like the well-known starburst type. As well, type III cells do not occur as a mirror-symmetric pair with normally placed and displaced varieties. The type III cell is probably a small field amacrine type branching broadly in upper sublamina b of the inner plexiform layer, and is most likely A6 of the Ground Squirrel retina [J. Comp. Neurol. 365 (1996) 173-216]. Type III cells are ideally placed in the architecture of the Ground Squirrel retina to influence ON directionally selective ganglion cell types. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Archives of Histology and Cytology, 1993
Immunocytochemical study was performed in the Bufo marinus retina to reveal the localization of y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunoreactivity in neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, substance P (SP)-, serotonin (5HT)and tyrosin hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive amacrine cells. GABA-immunoreactivity was present in all NPY-, in some of the SP-and 5HT-containing amacrine cells, but not in TH-immunoreactive amacrine cells. Among the 5HT-immunoreactive amacrine cells, a population of 5HT-synthesizing and most of the 5HT-accumulating cells were GABA-immunoreactive. These results indicate that neuropeptide-and GABA-immunoreactivity are colocalized in amacrine cells of the anuran retina. We propose a possible co-transmission for two classical neurotransmitters (GABA and 5HT) in some of the 5HTcontaining amacrine cells. Previous studies have indicated that the y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic amacrine cell population is morphologically (
Ionotropic glutamate receptors of amacrine cells of the mouse retina
The mammalian retina contains approximately 30 different morphological types of amacrine cells, receiving glutamatergic input from bipolar cells. In this study, we combined electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques in order to study the glutamate receptors expressed by different types of amacrine cells. Whole-cell currents were recorded from amacrine cells in vertical slices of the mouse retina. During the recordings the cells were filled with Lucifer Yellow/Neurobiotin allowing classification as wide-field or narrow-field amacrine cells. Amacrine cell recordings were also carried out in a transgenic mouse line whose glycinergic amacrine cells express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Agonist-induced currents were elicited by exogenous application of NMDA, AMPA, and kainate (KA) while holding cells at -75 mV. Using a variety of specific agonists and antagonists (NBQX, AP5, cyclothiazide, GYKI 52466, GYKI 53655, SYM 2081) responses mediated by AMPA, KA, and NMDA receptors could be dissected. All cells (n = 300) showed prominent responses to non-NMDA agonists. Some cells expressed AMPA receptors exclusively and some cells expressed KA receptors exclusively. In the majority of cells both receptor types could be identified. NMDA receptors were observed in about 75% of the wide-field amacrine cells and in less than half of the narrow-field amacrine cells. Our results confirm that different amacrine cell types express distinct sets of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which may be critical in conferring their unique temporal responses to this diverse neuronal class.
Neurons immunoreactive to choline acetyltransferase in the turtle retina
Vision Research, 1992
Light microscopic immunocytochemistry using anti-choline acetykransferase (ChAT) was performed to stain putative cholinergic amacrine cells in turtle retina. C&AT-immunoreactive somata lie in the inner nuclear (INL) and ganglion cell (GCL) layers. Three types of amacrine cells were found according to the location of their somata and their dendritic stratifkation pattern in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Type I amacrines lie in the row of cells closest to the INL/IPL limits and they branch along the sl/s2 border of the IPL. Type II amacrines are displaced to the GCL and they ramify along the s3/s4 border of the IPL. Type III amacrines lie in the middle of the INL, 2-3 rows away from the IPL limits and their dendrites appear to be bi-or t&strati&d in sl and s3-4 of the IPL. The turtle ChAT-IR amacrines are thus similar to the types described in chicken retina. A regubu, non-random mosaic formed by stained type II amacrine cells was ohserved in the GCL. Their density in mid-central retina was 750 cells/mm*, tapering off to 393 cells/mm' in peripheral retina. Our study indicates that a pair of cholinergic amacrine cell types in turtle retina is arranged in mirror-image symmetry contributing to sublamina "a" and subhunina "b" of the IPL, l&e in other vertebrate retinas. Turtle retina ChAT-immunoreactive neurons Amacrine cells