One type of interplexiform cell (IPC) in the dace retina was discriminated physiologically from other cell classes and identified morphologically with HRP staining. This type responded with slow hyperpolarizing potentials to white diffuse light, and in addition a slow hyperpolarization (after potential) was observed after the cessation of light with relatively high intensities. The latency of the ON phase of the response was always longer than that of the second-order neurons and the amacrine cells. Morphologically, this type of IPC was similar in appearance with the dopaminergic IPC. The conventional synaptic specialization between this type of IPC and horizontal cells was observed, and the IPC was presynaptic.

Neurons likely to utilize glycine (GLY) as a neurotransmitter were identified immunocytochemically in the “all-cone” lizard retina and the basic anatomical organization of the retinal GLY and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems was compared. Four types of GLY-immunoreactive (GLY-IR) neurons were identified. Most GLY-IR cells were amacrine cells, which comprised at least two types. GLY-IR interplexiform cells and ganglion cells also were identified. The first GLY-IR amacrine cell type was characterized by a small pyriform soma, located distal to the border of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and fine dendrites. Most GLY-IR amacrine cells were of this type and several subtypes may exist within this group. The second amacrine cell type was characterized by a large, distally located soma and a large descending process. This amacrine cell type showed colocalization of GLY-IR and GABA-IR and comprised about 4% of the total GLY-IR amacrine cell population.

Comparison of GLY-IR and GABA-IR on serial sections showed that GLY and GABA were present in largely separate neuronal populations. Generally, GLY-IR amacrine cells were smaller, more distally located in the inner nuclear layer and had finer dendrites than GABA-IR amacrine cells. Distribution of GLY-IR and GABA-IR in the outer plexiform layer and the inner plexiform layer differed considerably.

Based on the segregated distribution of GLY-IR and GABA-IR in the synaptic layers of the lizard retina, GLY and GABA may have fundamentally different roles in retinal processing.