Choroidal ganglion cells in prenatal, young, and middle-aged human donor eyes.
OBJECTIVE
In the current study, the appearance and development of choroidal ganglion cells (CGCs) was investigated in eyes of 18 human donors between the 13th week of gestation (wog) and 42 years of age.


METHODS
The number and diameter of CGCs was evaluated in scleral and choroidal whole mounts stained for NADPH diaphorase. To demonstrate the synaptic input of the CGCs, sections were stained with antibodies against synaptophysin, vesicular acetylcholin transporter, tyrosin hydroxylase, and vesicular monoaminergic transporter 2.


RESULTS
Clusters of small CGCs were first seen in the 18th wog next to the nasal and temporal long ciliary nerves. Immunohistochemistry in the 25th wog revealed 3298 and 5429 nitric oxide synthase/NADPH diaphorase positive CGCs, surrounded by numerous cholinergic and aminergic boutons. The number of CGCs decreased to 1000-2500 after birth. During postnatal development, the CGCs spread into small groups, distributed all over the choroid. The size of CGCs increased markedly up to adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
CGCs appear late during choroidal development, in parallel with the differentiation of the outer vascular layers. This coincidence might point to the primary role of the CGCs as specific vasoregulators in species with a well-developed fovea centralis.
May
Christian Albrecht
CA
Anatomisches Institut II, Friedrich Alexander Universität, Erlangen, Germany. Albrecht.May@anatomie2.med.uni-erlangen.de
Lütjen-Drecoll
Elke
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001692:Biological Transport; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002829:Choroid / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000294:innervation*; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins
D015415:Biomarkers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493459:SLC18A3 protein, human; D016708:Synaptophysin; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase