Ultrastructural evidence for a close relationship between dopamine cell processes and blood capillary walls in Macaca monkey and rat retina.
In the retina, tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) antiserum specifically labels intrinsic dopamine (DA)-neurons. In order to clarify the relationship between capillaries and DA-processes already observed by light microscopy, we have performed TH-immunocytochemistry on rat and monkey retinas at the electron microscope level. Close contacts were observed between DA-varicosities and the basal lamina of both pericytes and endothelial cells. As in the brain, these anatomical findings suggest that intrinsic DA-neurons could contribute to the regulation of local retinal blood flow and/or permeability.
Favard
C
C
Laboratoire de Neuro-Cytologie Oculaire, I.N.S.E.R.M.U.-86, Paris, France.
Simon
A
A
Vigny
A
A
Nguyen-Legros
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008254:Macaca nemestrina; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000276:immunology
D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine