Autoradiographic analysis of 3H-glutamate, 3H-dopamine, and 3H-GABA accumulation in rabbit retina after kainic acid treatment

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.490090303· OSTI ID:5392264

Hampton, C K; Redburn, D A

We have previously reported that exposure of isolated rabbit retina to 10(-3) M kainic acid produces profound morphological changes in specific retinal neurons (Hampton et al, 1981). We noted specific swelling of horizontal cell bodies and neurites, necrosis of cell bodies in the amacrine and ganglion cell layers, and swelling of elements in the inner plexiform layer. We now report a differential sensitivity to kainic acid of specific subclasses of amacrine cells autoradiographically labeled with 3H-glutamate, 3H-GABA, or 3H-dopamine. Three different effects were observed: (1) Labeling of neurons after incubation in 3H-glutamate was uniformly reduced while labeling of glia was much less affected. (2) The accumulation of 3H-dopamine was also decreased by kainic acid in two of the three labeled bands of the inner plexiform layer. The outermost labeled band was insensitive to kainic acid at the highest concentration tested (10(-2) M). These findings provide a basis for the subclassification of dopaminergic amacrine cells into at least two subclasses based on their sensitivity to kainic acid. (3) Kainic acid caused a dramatic increase in the labeling of GABAergic amacrine cell bodies and their terminals. This increased intensity may reflect a compensatory increase in uptake activity in response to kainic acid-induced depletion of endogenous GABA stores. These results confirm the highly toxic nature of kainic acid and demonstrate a high degree of specificity and complexity in its action in the retina.

• Research Organization: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical School, Houston
• OSTI ID: 5392264
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN JNRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550901* -- Pathology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZOLES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
DOPAMINE
DRUGS
EYES
FACE
GLUTAMIC ACID
HEAD
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LABELLING
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
PYRROLES
PYRROLIDINES
RABBITS
RADIOISOTOPES
RETINA
SENSE ORGANS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES