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Glycine in the lizard retina: Comparison to the GABA system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

David M. Sherry,
Alex Micich and
Stephen Yazulla
David M. Sherry
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY-Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Alex Micich
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY-Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Stephen Yazulla
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, SUNY-Stony Brook, Stony Brook
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Abstract

Neurons likely to utilize glycine (GLY) as a neurotransmitter were identified immunocytochemically in the “all-cone” lizard retina and the basic anatomical organization of the retinal GLY and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems was compared. Four types of GLY-immunoreactive (GLY-IR) neurons were identified. Most GLY-IR cells were amacrine cells, which comprised at least two types. GLY-IR interplexiform cells and ganglion cells also were identified. The first GLY-IR amacrine cell type was characterized by a small pyriform soma, located distal to the border of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and fine dendrites. Most GLY-IR amacrine cells were of this type and several subtypes may exist within this group. The second amacrine cell type was characterized by a large, distally located soma and a large descending process. This amacrine cell type showed colocalization of GLY-IR and GABA-IR and comprised about 4% of the total GLY-IR amacrine cell population.

Comparison of GLY-IR and GABA-IR on serial sections showed that GLY and GABA were present in largely separate neuronal populations. Generally, GLY-IR amacrine cells were smaller, more distally located in the inner nuclear layer and had finer dendrites than GABA-IR amacrine cells. Distribution of GLY-IR and GABA-IR in the outer plexiform layer and the inner plexiform layer differed considerably.

Based on the segregated distribution of GLY-IR and GABA-IR in the synaptic layers of the lizard retina, GLY and GABA may have fundamentally different roles in retinal processing.

Keywords

NeurotransmitterAmacrine cellGanglion cellInterplexiform cellGlycineGABARetinaLizard

Information

Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , July 1993, pp. 693 - 702
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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