GABA-like immunoreactive neurons in the retina of Bufo marinus: evidence for the presence of GABA-containing ganglion cells

Brain Res. 1992 Jan 31;571(1):175-9. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(92)90528-h.

Abstract

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the retina of the cane toad Bufo marinus were revealed using immunohistochemistry on retinal wholemount preparation and sectioned material. GABA-IR neurons included horizontal, bipolar and amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer and small to medium sized cells in the ganglion cell layer. A few IR axons were seen in the optic fiber layer of the retina. Following the injection of the carbocyanine dye, DiI into the optic tectum ganglion cells were retrogradely filled. A small population of DiI-filled ganglion cells (2.8%) was found to be GABA-IR. GABA-IR neurons in the ganglion cell layer without DiI label were considered to be displaced amacrine cells of which 45.3% were GABA positive. It is proposed that GABA-containing ganglion cells may form an inhibitory projection to visual centers of the anuran brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bufo marinus / metabolism*
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Neurons / chemistry*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Retina / chemistry*
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / chemistry*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate