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Granulated vesicles in retinal synapses and neurons

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Summary

The electron microscope study of the retina of rats revealed the presence of granulated vesicles in synapses and neurons. Of the three different types of nerve endings observed in the inner plexiform layer, two were found to contain granulated vesicles. Type 1 nerve ending, belonging to bipolar cells, is devoid of granulated vesicles and together with type 2 nerve endings and ganglion cell dendrites forms glomerular-like synapses. Type 2 nerve endings, belonging to amacrine cells, have granulated vesicles of 640 Å, and type 3 nerve endings, probably representing centrifugal fibers and located at the outermost zone of the inner plexiform layer, have granulated vesicles of 1140 Å.

Granulated vesicles were also found in perikarya of the inner nuclear layer in close association with the Golgi complex of these cells. Of the two types of neurons observed in the ganglion cell layer, the clear type neuron exhibits granulated vesicles in its cytoplasm.

The correspondence of these findings with those obtained with the histochemical fluorescence technique for catecholamines is discussed. The suggestion is made that the granulated vesicles could represent the site of storage of retinal catecholamines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Anatomía General y Embriología, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Amanda Pellegrino de Iraldi & Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry

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  1. Amanda Pellegrino de Iraldi
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  2. Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry
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This work has been supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina, and U.S. Air Force (AF-AFOSR 963-66).

Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. We are deeply indebted to ProfessorEduardo de Robertis for his valuable help and critical reading of the manuscript; and to MissHaydee Agoff and Mr.Basilio Rodríguez for their skillful technical assistance.

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Pellegrino de Iraldi, A., Jaim Etcheverry, G. Granulated vesicles in retinal synapses and neurons. Z.Zellforsch 81, 283–296 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02075974

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