The Rod Pathway of the Microbat Retina Has Bistratified Rod Bipolar Cells and Tristratified AII Amacrine Cells

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2072-12.2013
• Publication Date: 2013-01-16T18:08:45Z
• Authors: Brigitte Müller; Elisabeth Butz; Leo Peichl; Silke Haverkamp
• Keywords: Immunolabeling; Calretinin; Inner plexiform layer; Amacrine cell

We studied the retinal rod pathway of Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina , frugivorous microbats phyllostomid family. Protein kinase Cα (PKCα) immunolabeling revealed abundant bipolar cells (RBCs) with axon terminals in innermost sublamina inner plexiform layer (IPL), which is typical for mammals. Extraordinarily, RBC axons showed additional synaptic contacts a second further out IPL. Dye injections PKCα-prelabeled RBCs C. confirmed bistratified morphology. The functional partition IPL into ON OFF sublayers was shown by using antibodies against vesicular glutamate transporter 1 [labeling all cell (BC) terminals] G-protein γ13 (labeling BCs). sublayer occupied 75% thickness, including both strata axons. output onto putative AII amacrine (ACs), crucial interneurons pathway, identified calretinin, PKCα, CtBP2 triple immunolabeling. calretinin-prelabeled ACs tristratification corresponding to RBCs. Triple nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), either GABA C or indicated GABAergic feedback via NOS-immunoreactive ACs. analysis glycineric synapses glycine receptor α1 expression between cone BCs connexin 36-labeled gap junctions BCs. conclude that have well developed great similarities other mammals, but an unusual stratification pattern AIIs.