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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ground squirrel retina: Localization of the β4 subunit by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Luiz R. G. Britto ,
Scott W. Rogers ,
Dânia E. Hamassaki-Britto  and
Robert M. Duvoisin
Luiz R. G. Britto
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP (Brazil)
Scott W. Rogers
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver
Dânia E. Hamassaki-Britto
Affiliation:
Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508 São Paulo, SP (Brazil)
Robert M. Duvoisin
Affiliation:
Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Cornell University Medical College, New York
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Abstract

Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques were used to localize the β4 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the ground squirrel retina. The β4 nAChR subunit was detected in both transverse and horizontal sections of the retina using a subunit-specific antiserum and the avidin-biotin complex technique. Two bands of labeled processes were seen in the inner plexiform layer, corresponding approximately to the laminae where the cholinergic cells arborize. Labeled cells were found in the ganglion cell layer and the inner third of the inner nuclear layer. The cells in the ganglion cell layer were medium- to large-sized and were frequently observed to give rise to axon-like processes. Most of the labeled neurons in the inner nuclear layer were small presumptive amacrine cells, but a few medium-to-large cells were also labeled. These could constitute a different class of amacrine cells or displaced ganglion cells. The latter possibility is supported by the existence of nAChR-containing displaced ganglion cells in the avian retina. In situ hybridization with a 35S-labeled cRNA probe revealed the expression of mRNA coding for the nAChR β4 subunit in the ganglion cell layer and the inner third of the inner nuclear layer. This finding confirmed the immunohistochemical data of the cellular localization of β4 nAChR subunit.

These results indicate that the β4 nAChR subunit is expressed by specific subtypes of neurons on the ground squirrel retina. As the expression of that particular nAChR subunit appears to be very limited in the brain, the present data suggest that the retina might represent a useful model to study the function of nAChRs containing the β4 subunit.

Keywords

AcetylcholineMammalian retinaNeurotransmittersNicotinic receptors
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , May 1994 , pp. 569 - 577
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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