Exp Neurobiol.  2017 Dec;26(6):329-338. 10.5607/en.2017.26.6.329.

Reexamination of Dopaminergic Amacrine Cells in the Rabbit Retina: Confocal Analysis with Double- and Triple-labeling Immunohistochemistry

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea. ibkimmd@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Gimpo Hangil Eye Center, Gimpo 10110, Korea.
  • 3Catholic Neuroscience Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
  • 4Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.

Abstract

Dopaminergic amacrine cells (DACs) are among the most well-characterized neurons in the mammalian retina, and their connections to AII amacrine cells have been described in detail. However, the stratification of DAC dendrites differs based on their location in the inner plexiform layer (IPL), raising the question of whether all AII lobules are modulated by dopamine release from DACs. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between DACs and AII amacrine cells, and to further elucidate the role of dopamine at synapses with AII amacrine cell. In the rabbit retina, DAC dendrites were observed in strata 1, 3, and 5 of the IPL. In stratum 1, most DAC dendritic varicosities"”the presumed sites of neurotransmitter release"”made contact with the somata and lobular appendages of AII amacrine cells. However, most lobular appendages of AII amacrine cells localized within stratum 2 of the IPL exhibited little contact with DAC varicosities. In addition, double- or triple-labeling experiments revealed that DACs did not express the GABAergic neuronal markers anti-GABA, vesicular GABA transporter, or glutamic acid decarboxylase. These findings suggest that the lobular appendages of AII amacrine cells are involved in at least two different circuits. We speculate that the circuit associated with stratum 1 of the IPL is modulated by DACs, while that associated with stratum 2 is modulated by unknown amacrine cells expressing a different neuroactive substance. Our findings further indicate that DACs in the rabbit retina do not use GABA as a neurotransmitter, in contrast to those in other mammals.

Keyword

Dopamine; AII amacrine cell; Scotopic pathway; GABA; Retinal circuit

MeSH Terms

Amacrine Cells*
Dendrites
Dopamine
GABAergic Neurons
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Glutamate Decarboxylase
Immunohistochemistry*
Mammals
Neurons
Neurotransmitter Agents
Retina*
Synapses
Dopamine
Glutamate Decarboxylase
Neurotransmitter Agents
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
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