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Preproenkephalin messenger RNA-containing amacrine cells in the chicken retina identified with in situ hybridization histochemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Margherita Molnar ,
Giovanni Casini ,
Brian M. Davis ,
Nicholas C. Brecha  and
Paola Bagnoli
Margherita Molnar
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Pisa, 56123 Pisa, Italy
Giovanni Casini
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Brian M. Davis
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of KentuckyMedical Center, Lexington
Nicholas C. Brecha
Affiliation:
Departments of Anatomy & Cell Biology and Medicine, Brain Research Institute, CURE: VA/UCLA Gastroenteric Biology Center, UCLA School of Medicine, and VAMC-West Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Paola Bagnoli
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Pisa, 56123 Pisa, Italy
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Abstract

Enkephalin peptides are present in the retina of several vertebrate species. In the avian retina, enkephalin immunoreactivity is primarily localized to a population of amacrine cells. In the present study, we determined the localization of cells expressing preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA, which encodes the precursor of enkephalin peptides, in adult as well as in embryonic chicken retinas. The localization of PPE mRNA-expressing cells to the proximal inner nuclear layer (INL) in the adult chicken retina is similar to that of enkephalin-immunoreactive cells observed in previous studies, indicating that amacrine cells expressing PPE mRNA synthesize Met5- and Leu5-enkephalin peptides and related extended forms. Specific hybridization signal is absent in retinas at embryonic day (E) 11, but it is detected in retinas at E 15 and at hatching. PPE mRNA-expressing cells at these ages are located in the proximal INL, and they can be classified as amacrine cells on the basis of their soma size and laminar position. These findings confirm and extend previous observations on the presence of opioid peptides in amacrine cells of the chicken retina. The presence of PPE mRNA at embryonic ages, together with the evidence that enkephalins influence developmental processes, suggests that these peptides modulate retinal maturation in birds.

Keywords

Opioid peptidesNeuropeptidesIn situ hybridizationRetinaBirds
Type
Short Communications
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 1995 , pp. 185 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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