Light- and electron-microscopic analysis of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive amacrine cells in the guinea pig retina

Cell Tissue Res. 2001 Dec;306(3):363-71. doi: 10.1007/s004410100460. Epub 2001 Oct 16.

Abstract

We investigated the morphology and synaptic connections of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing neurons in the guinea pig retina by immunocytochemistry, using antisera against NPY. Specific NPY immunoreactivity was localized to a population of wide-field and regularly spaced amacrine cells with processes ramifying mainly in stratum 1 of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Double-label immunohistochemistry demonstrated that all NPY-immunoreactive cells possessed glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 immunoreactivity. The synaptic connectivity of NPY-immunoreactive amacrine cells was identified in the IPL by electron microscopy. The NPY-labeled amacrine cell processes received synaptic input from other amacrine cell processes and bipolar cell axon terminals in stratum 1 of the IPL. The most frequent postsynaptic targets of NPY-immunoreactive amacrine cells were other amacrine cell processes. Synaptic outputs to bipolar cells were also observed in a small number of cases. This finding suggests that NPY-containing amacrine cells may influence inner retinal circuitry in stratum 1 of the IPL, thus mediating visual processing.

MeSH terms

  • Amacrine Cells / chemistry*
  • Amacrine Cells / ultrastructure
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Neuropeptide Y / analysis*
  • Neuropeptide Y / immunology
  • Synapses / chemistry
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analysis
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid