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Telkes I, Kóbor P, Orbán J, Kovács-Öller T, Völgyi B, Buzás P. Connexin-36 distribution and layer-specific topography in the cat retina. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:2183-2197. [PMID: 31172263 PMCID: PMC6591202 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01876-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Connexin-36 (Cx36) is the major constituent of mammalian retinal gap junctions positioned in key signal pathways. Here, we examined the laminar and large-scale topographical distribution of Cx36 punctate immunolabels in the retina of the cat, a classical model of the mammalian visual system. Calretinin-immunoreactive (CaR-IR) cell populations served to outline the nuclear and plexiform layers and to stain specific neuronal populations. CaR-IR cells included horizontal cells in the outer retina, numerous amacrine cells, and scattered cells in the ganglion cell layer. Cx36-IR plaques were found among horizontal cell dendrites albeit without systematic colocalization of the two labels. Diffuse Cx36 immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of AII amacrine cells, but no colocalization of Cx36 plaques was observed with either the perikarya or the long varicose dendrites of the CaR-IR non-AII amacrine cells. Cx36 puncta were seen throughout the entire inner plexiform layer showing their highest density in the ON sublamina. The densities of AII amacrine cell bodies and Cx36 plaques in the ON sublamina were strongly correlated across a wide range of eccentricities suggesting their anatomical association. However, the high number of plaques per AII cell suggests that a considerable fraction of Cx36 gap junctions in the ON sublamina is formed by other cell types than AII amacrine cells drawing attention to extensive but less studied electrically coupled networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Telkes
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
| | - Péter Kóbor
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
| | - József Orbán
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Department of Biophysics, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
| | - Tamás Kovács-Öller
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, MTA-PTE NAP-2, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
| | - Béla Völgyi
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, MTA-PTE NAP-2, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary
| | - Péter Buzás
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
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