Summary
The adrenergic retinal neurons were studied in cynomolgus and squirrel monkeys, cats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and mice. In addition to what has previously been described, some very few adrenergic terminals were in all species observed to reach the horizontal cells. Also, except in the cynomolgus monkey, the inner plexiform layer contained three sublayers of adrenergic fibres. The two innermost layers were very scant in certain species.
By crushing the optic nerve, it was confirmed that it contains no adrenergic axons, except along vessels. Consequently, the adrenergic perikarya of the ganglion cell layer (the alloganglion cells) must be entirely intraretinal.
Pharmacohistochemical experiments revealed that all cell types of the rat retina contain dopamine. A system of adrenergic neurons presumably containing noradrenaline was also detected. Their morphology was not obviously different from the neurons containing dopamine.
Zusammenfassung
Die adrenergen retinalen Neurone wurden an Cynomolgus- und Totenkopfaffen, Katzen, Kaninchen, Meerschweinchen, Ratten und Mäusen studiert. Als Ergänzung zu früheren Beschreibungen wurde beobachtet, daß bei allen untersuchten Arten nur sehr wenige der adrenergen Terminale die horizontalen Zellen erreichten. Auch zeigte sich, daß, mit Ausnahme des Cynomolgusaffen, die innere plexiforme Schicht drei Unterschichten enthält, bestehend aus adrenergen Fasern. Die beiden innersten Schichten waren sehr spärlich bei einigen der untersuchten Arten.
Durch Zerquetschen des Opticus wurde bestätigt, daß dieser keine adrenergen Axone enthält, mit Ausnahme entlang der Gefäße. Demnach müssen die adrenergen Perikarya der Ganglienzellschicht (die Alloganglienzellen) ausschließlich intraretinal liegen.
Pharmakohistochemische Experimente zeigten, daß alle Zelltypen der Retina der Ratte Dopamin enthalten. Ein System von adrenergen Neuronen, die wahrscheinlich Noradrenalin enthalten, wurde auch entdeckt. Ihre Morphologie unterschied sich nicht offensichtlich von den dopaminenthaltenden Neuronen.
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Ehinger, B., Falck, B. Morphological and pharmacohistochemical characteristics of adrenergic retinal neurons of some mammals. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 178, 295–305 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410475
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410475