Differential expression of GAD(65) and GAD(67) during the development of the rat retina.

The development of synthetic enzymes in the GABAergic system (GAD(67) and GAD(65)) of the rat retina was analyzed from birth to the 4th postnatal week by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by immunohistochemistry. As previously observed for GABA, immunoreactive GAD(67) profiles are seen clearly in the inner retinal layers at birth. At the end of the 1st week of postnatal life, immunolabeling is detected in amacrine and/or ganglion cells and in horizontal cells.

Recoverin and hippocalcin distribution in the lamprey (Lampreta fluviatilis) retina.

Recoverin is a calcium-sensing protein which is involved in the transduction of light in vertebrate photoreceptors. It is also detected in other retina cell types in which its function is not yet elucidated, and is an autoantigen in a cancer-associated degenerative disease of the retina. Recently, hippocalcin, an homologous protein of recoverin, belonging to the same family of fatty acylated EF-hand calcium binding proteins was described in mammals.

Electron microscopic demonstration of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive interplexiform cells in the lamprey retina.

To clarify the controversies about the existence (or not) of dopaminergic interplexiform cells in the lamprey retina, we have performed an immunocytochemical electron microscopic study of the retina of the river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, using anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody. We demonstrate the presence of immunoreactive processes in both inner (IPL) and outer (OPL) plexiform layers. The external processes are in close contact with horizontal cell processes and photoreceptor terminals in the OPL, but do not make classical synapses.

Early development of GABA-like immunoreactive cells in the retina of turtle embryos.

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the earliest neuroactive substances appearing in the developing central nervous system. The distribution and the time course of the appearance of GABA-like immunoreactivity in the retina of the turtle Emys orbicularis were investigated from embryonic stage 13 to hatching. The first GABA-like immunoreactive cells were observed at stage 14.

Immunohistochemical localization of calbindin-D28K and calretinin in the lamprey retina.

Calbindin-D28K and calretinin are homologous cytosolic calcium binding proteins localized in many retinal neurons from different species. In this report, location of cells immunoreactive to both proteins was investigated in the retina of the lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis. This organism constitutes one of the older representative vertebrates and possesses a peculiar organization, probably unique: two-thirds of the ganglion cells are in the classical amacrine cell layer and the nerve fiber layer is located in the scleral part of the inner plexiform layer.