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Cholecystokinin-like immunoreactive amacrine cells in the rat retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2002

SALLY I. FIRTH
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston
CAROLINA VARELA
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Universidad de Alcala, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
PEDRO DE LA VILLA
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Universidad de Alcala, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
DAVID W. MARSHAK
Affiliation:
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston

Abstract

High levels of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) are present in the rat retina (Eskay & Beinfeld, 1982), but the cellular localization and physiological actions of CCK in the rat retina are uncertain. The goals of this study were to characterize the cells containing CCK, identify cell types that interact with CCK cells, and investigate the effects of CCK on rod bipolar cells. Rat retinas were labeled with antibody to gastrin-CCK (gCCK) using standard immunofluorescence techniques. Patch-clamp methods were used to record from dissociated rod bipolar cells from rats and mice. Gastrin-CCK immunoreactive (-IR) axons were evenly distributed throughout the retina in stratum 5 of the inner plexiform layer of the rat retina. However, the gCCK-IR somata were only detected in the ganglion cell layer in the peripheral retina. The gCCK-IR cells contained glutamate decarboxylase, and some of them also contained immunoreactive substance P. Labeled axons contacted PKC-IR rod bipolar cells, and recoverin-IR ON-cone bipolar cells. CCK-octapeptide inhibits GABAC but not GABAA mediated currents in dissociated rod bipolar cells.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press

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