LOCALIZATION OF NEUROTENSIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVE AMACRINE CELLS IN THE CHICK RETINA:A LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Immunohistochemistry was utilized to investigate the light and electron micros-copic localization of neurotensin-like (NT) immunoreactive amacrine cells in thechicken retina.The results showed that the NT-immunoreactive cell bodies wereoval and situated in either the second or third row of cells from the inner borderof the inner nuclear layer.The processes of such cells extended into the innerplexiform layer where they ramified as a fine plexus in sublamina 1 and as a denseplexus in sublamina 3 and 4.At the ultrastructural level,NT positive soma exhibited a rather dense and evenlydistributed immune reaction product throughout their cytoplasm.The nucleus ofNT-amacrine cells possessed a round,unindented nuclear membrane.NT positiveprocesses of such cells receive synaptic input from processes of unlabeled amacrineand bipolar cells.They formed synaptic output onto processes of nonimmuno-reactive amacrine cells and bipolar cells.Moreover,each of the above synapticrelationships were identified in each of sublamina 1 and 3 to 4 of the inner plexiform layer.In addition,NT positive processes fromed synaptic output to processesdevoid of synaptic vesicles,which may originated from ganglion cells.They alsoformed synaptic output to somas situated in the innermost cell row of the innernuclear layer.Identification of synaptic elements and retinal circuitry were also discussed.