Open AccessLocalization of sodium channels in axon hillocks and initial segments of retinal ganglion cells.
Author(s) -
Debra A. Wollner,
William A. Catterall
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.83.21.8424
Subject(s) - axon hillock , retina , axon , inner plexiform layer , sodium channel , ganglion , ganglion cell layer , retinal ganglion cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , retinal , anatomy , chemistry , biophysics , neuroscience , sodium , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Affinity-purified antibodies against the sodium channel from rat brain were employed to localize sodium channels in the retina by immunocytochemical procedures. In rat retina, intense staining was observed in the ganglion cell axon layer and light staining was detected in fibers of the inner plexiform layer. In frog retina, only the ganglion cell axon layer was stained. Examination at higher magnification revealed that axon hillocks and initial segments of ganglion cells had a high density of immunoreactive sodium channels, whereas the cell bodies were devoid of stain. The sharply defined region of high sodium channel density at the axon hillock is likely to be responsible for the low threshold for action potential initiation in this region of vertebrate central neurons.