Close tip-to-tip contacts between dendrites of transient amacrine cells in carp retina.
In isolated retinas of the carp (Cyprinus carpio) placed receptor side up in a plastic chamber, a subclass of amacrine cells, generating a fast ON-OFF transient response to spot and annular light stimuli, were intracellularly recorded and injected with a fluorescent dye, Lucifer yellow (LY). After brief fixation of the same preparations in aldehyde solution, the retinas were wholemounted vitreous side up in a tissue chamber. Under a fluorescence microscope, one LY-injected cell and several dye-coupled cells were seen; these cells belonged to type Fnd, having a fusiform soma, narrow dendritic field and bistratified dentrites in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). To reveal the interconnections between dendrites, one of such dye-coupled cells was further injected with LY. Close tip-to-tip contacts were predominantly found between dendrites of neighboring type Fnd cells in sublaminae a and b of the IPL, respectively.
Negishi
K
K
Department of Neurophysiology, University of Kanazawa, Japan.
Teranishi
T
T
D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008027:Light; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; C017475:lucifer yellow