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Selective depletion of beta cells affects the development of alpha cells in cat retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Steven J. Ault ,
Kirk G. Thompson ,
Yifeng Zhou  and
Audie G. Leventhal
Steven J. Ault
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
Kirk G. Thompson
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
Yifeng Zhou
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, People’s Republic of China
Audie G. Leventhal
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
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Abstract

The results of previous studies suggest that class-specific interactions contribute to the development of the different classes of retinal ganglion cells. We tested this hypothesis by examining the morphologies and distributions of alpha (α) cells in regions of mature cat retina selectively depleted of beta (β) cells as a result of visual cortex lesions at birth. We find that α cells in regions of central retina depleted of β cells are abnormally large while α cells in regions of peripheral retina depleted of β cells are abnormally small. The normal central-to-peripheral α cell soma-size gradient is absent in hemiretinae depleted of β cells. The dendritic fields of α cells in the border of β-cell-depleted hemiretina extend preferentially into the β-cell-poor hemiretina. In spite of this, α cell bodies retain their normal retinal distribution and remain distributed in a nonrandom mosaic-like pattern. Thus, it appears that the development of α retinal ganglion cells is influenced by interactions both with other α cells (class-specific interactions) and with surrounding β cells (nonclass-specific interactions).

Keywords

Retinal ganglion cellsMorphologyDevelopmentCat
Type
Research Article
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , March 1993 , pp. 237 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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