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Ultrastructural and functional connectivity of intracellularly stained neurones in the vertebrate retina: Correlative analyses
Author(s) -
Djamgoz Mustafa B. A.,
Kolb Helga
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070240106
Subject(s) - retina , postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , intracellular , biology , ganglion , neurotransmitter , microbiology and biotechnology , ribbon synapse , synapse , horseradish peroxidase , anatomy , compartmentalization (fire protection) , ultrastructure , biophysics , synaptic vesicle , central nervous system , biochemistry , receptor , enzyme , vesicle , membrane
A variety of intracellular recording and staining techniques has been used to establish structure‐function and, in some cases, structure‐function‐neurochemical correlations in fish, turtle, and cat retinae. Cone photoreceptor‐horizontal cell connectivity has been studied extensively in the cyprinid fish retina by intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and subsequent electron microscopy. The available data suggest that horizontal cell dendrites around the ridge of the synaptic ribbon are postsynaptic, whilst finger‐like extensions (“spinules”) of lateral dendrites function as inhibitory feedback terminals. An interesting feature of this inter‐action is its plasticity: the feedback pathway is suppressed in the dark and becomes potentiated by light adaptation of the retina. Intracellular recordings and stainings of ganglion cells in both turtle and cat retinae have been possible. Prelabelling of ganglion cells by retrograde transport of rhodamine from the tectum allows ganglion cells to be stained under visual control, and their synaptic inputs determined by electron microscopy. Such studies have been extended to double labelling by using autoradiography or postembedding immunohistochemistry to identify the neurotransmitter content of the labelled cell and/or the neurotransmitter(s) converging upon it. It is envisaged that further applications of intracellular staining followed by double‐ or even triple‐labelling will continue to enhance greatly our understanding of the functional architecture of the vertebrate retina. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.