Is nitric oxide a transmitter of the centrifugal projection to the avian retina?
The chicken retina contains a population of prominent elements in the inner nuclear layer, which stain for NADPH-diaphorase. In distribution and morphology, these elements resemble the terminals of the centrifugal projection from the isthmo-optic nucleus. This identification was confirmed by showing that the NADPH-diaphorase-positive elements in the retina degenerated after destruction of the isthmo-optic nucleus or tract. These results indicate that the centrifugal projection to the retina in birds uses nitric oxide as a messenger or transmitter, in addition to a more conventional but as yet unidentified transmitter.
Morgan
I G
IG
Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra City.
Miethke
P
P
Li
Z K
ZK
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis*; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase