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Localization of glycine receptor alpha subunits on bipolar and amacrine cells in primate retina
Author(s) -
Jusuf Patricia R.,
Haverkamp Silke,
Grünert Ulrike
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.20555
Subject(s) - inner plexiform layer , amacrine cell , glycine receptor , retina , biology , postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , microbiology and biotechnology , glycine , receptor , biochemistry , amino acid
The major inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine is used by about half of the amacrine cells in the retina. Amacrine cells provide synaptic output to bipolar, ganglion, and other amacrine cells. The present study investigated whether different bipolar and amacrine cell types in the primate retina differ with respect to the expression of glycine receptor (GlyR) subtypes. Antibodies specific for the α1, α2, and α3 subunits of the GlyR were combined with immunohistochemical markers for bipolar and amacrine cells and applied to vertical sections of macaque ( Macaca fascicularis ) and marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus ) retinae. For all subunits, punctate immunoreactivity was expressed in the inner plexiform layer. The GlyRα2 immunoreactive (IR) puncta occur at the highest density, followed by GlyRα3 and GlyRα1 IR puncta. Postembedding electron microscopy showed the postsynaptic location of all subunits. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated that the three α subunits are clustered at different postsynaptic sites. Two OFF cone bipolar cell types (flat midget and diffuse bipolar DB3), are predominantly associated with the α1 subunit. Two ON bipolar cell types, the DB6 and the rod bipolar cell, are predominantly associated with the α2 subunit. The glycinergic AII amacrine cell is presynaptic to the α1 subunit in the OFF‐sublamina, and postsynaptic to the α2 subunit in the ON‐sublamina. Another putative glycinergic cell, the vesicular glutamate transporter 3 cell, is predominantly presynaptic to the α2 subunit. The dopaminergic amacrine cell expresses the α3 subunit at a low density. J. Comp. Neurol. 488:113–128, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.