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The Topographical Distribution of Alanine, Aspartate, γ‐Aminobutyric Acid, Glutamate, Glutamine, and Glycine in the Pigeon Optic Tectum and the Effect of Retinal Ablation
Author(s) -
Fonnum Frode,
Henke Hermann
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1982.tb05358.x
Subject(s) - glutamate receptor , glycine , glutamine , alanine , retinal , glutamic acid , tectum , biology , biophysics , amino acid , glutamatergic , biochemistry , chemistry , neuroscience , central nervous system , midbrain , receptor
The concentrations of alanine, aspartate, γ‐aminobutyric acid, glutamine, glutamate, and glycine were measured in the pigeon optic nerve and in the individual tectal layers. Characteristic topographical distribution patterns were observed for the different amino acids. After unilateral retinal ablation, the concentration of aspartate and glutamate was decreased in the nerve and contralateral tectum. The reduction was restricted to the superficial part of the tectum, which receives a direct retinal input. The maximal loss was measured in the first two layers, where aspartate was reduced by 51% and glutamate by 75% in comparison with the ipsilateral side 4 weeks after ablation. The results favor a special role for aspartate and glutamate in pigeon retino‐tectal afferents.