In the mature rabbit retina, two classes of horizontal
cells, A type and B type, provide lateral inhibition in
the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and spatially modify the
activation of bipolar cells by photoreceptors. Gap junctions
connecting homologous horizontal cells determine the extent
to which this inhibitory activity spreads laterally across
the OPL. Little is currently known about the expression
of gap junctions in horizontal cells during postnatal development
or how cell–cell coupling might contribute to subsequent
maturational events. We have examined the morphological
attributes and coupling properties of developing A and
B type horizontal cells in neonatal rabbit retina using
intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow and Neurobiotin.
Prelabeling with DAPI permitted the targeting of horizontal
cell bodies for intracellular injection in perfused preparations
of isolated retina. A and B type horizontal cells were
identifiable at birth although their dendritic field sizes
had not reached adult proportions and their synaptic contacts
in the OPL were minimal. Both cell types exhibited homologous
dye coupling at birth. Similar to that seen in the adult,
no heterologous coupling was observed, and homologous coupling
among A type cells was stronger than that observed among
B type cells. The spread of tracer compounds through gap
junctions of morphologically immature horizontal cells
suggests that ions and other small, bioactive compounds
may likewise spread through coupled, horizontal networks
to coordinate the subsequent maturational of emerging outer
plexiform layer pathways.