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Immunocytochemical evidence for an axonal localization of GABA in the optic nerves of rabbits, rats, and cats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

P. C. Rogers  and
D. V. Pow
P. C. Rogers
Affiliation:
Vision, Touch, and Hearing Research Centre, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Department of Anatomical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
D. V. Pow
Affiliation:
Vision, Touch, and Hearing Research Centre, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
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Abstract

We have examined, by light-microscopic immunocytochemistry, the distribution of GABA in the optic nerves of adult rabbits, rats, and cats. Within the optic nerves, immunoreactivity for GABA was restricted to a small subset of axons; some axons were strongly labelled, others weakly labelled, whilst most axons were unlabelled. Glia and other non-neuronal elements were always unlabelled. Our ability to detect GABA in optic nerve axons of adult mammals contrasts with previous reports that indicate a lack of GABA immunoreactivity in such axons. We suggest that this discrepancy may be due to the sensitivity of our immunocytochemical techniques which enable us to detect low concentrations of GABA.

Keywords

GABAGanglion cellsOptic nerveRetina
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 12 , Issue 6 , November 1995 , pp. 1143 - 1149
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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