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Synaptic Organization of an organotypic slice culture of the mammalian retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Marco Sassoè-Pognetto ,
Andreas Feigenspan ,
Joachim Bormann  and
Heinz Wässle
Marco Sassoè-Pognetto
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Neuroanatomische Abteilung, Deutschordenstrasse 46, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany Dipartimento di Anatomie e Fisiologia Umana, Università di Torino, Corso Massimo d'Azeglio 52, 1-10126 Torino, Italy
Andreas Feigenspan
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Neuroanatomische Abteilung, Deutschordenstrasse 46, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany
Joachim Bormann
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Neuroanatomische Abteilung, Deutschordenstrasse 46, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany
Heinz Wässle
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Neuroanatomische Abteilung, Deutschordenstrasse 46, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany
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Abstract

Vertical Slices of postnatal day 6 (P6) rat retina were cut and cultured using the roller-tube technique. The organotypic differentiation during a culture period of up to 30 days has been described in a previous study (Feigenspan et al., 1993a). Here we concentrated on the synaptic organization in the retinal slice culture. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of ribbon synapses in the outer plexiform layer and conventional and ribbon syanpses in the inner plexiform layer. Immunofluroscence with antibodies that recognize specific subunits of GABAA or glycine receptors revealed a punctuate distribution of the receptors. They were aggregated in “hot spots” that correspond to a concentration of receptors at postsynaptic sites. Different isoforms of GABAA and glycine receptors occured in the slice cultures. The experiments show that there is a differentiation of synapses and a diversity of transmitter receptors in the slice cultures that is comparable to the in vivo retina.

Keywords

GABA receptorsGlycine receptorsGephyrinSlice cultureSynapses
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , July 1996 , pp. 759 - 771
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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