DOPAMINERGIC AMACRINE NEURONS OF RAT RETINAS WITH PHOTORECEPTOR DEGENERATION CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO LIGHT
DOPAMINERGIC AMACRINE NEURONS OF RAT RETINAS WITH PHOTORECEPTOR DEGENERATION CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO LIGHT
复制标题
DOI:
10.1016/0024-3205(80)90365-3
复制
发表时间:
1980-01-01
期刊:
影响因子:
6.1
通讯作者:
KAMP, CW
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
MORGAN, WW;KAMP, CW
Exposure of albino rats to continuous light of low intensity (350-700 lx) for 4 mo. produces massive degeneration of the photoreceptor segments and cell bodies of the outer nuclear layer of the retina. Only a few heterochromatic, receptor cell nuclei remain. No photoreceptor segments are present. The inner layers of these retinas remain morphologically intact. The inner nuclear layer of the normal rat retina contains a group of amacrine cells with the putative neurotransmitter, dopamine (DA). Short-term exposure to light (30 or 60 min) markedly stimulates the rate of DA turnover in these cells in normal, previously dark-adapted rats. Enhancement of the rate of neurotransmitter turnover in the brain was correlated with an increase in nerve impulse activity. The dopaminergic amacrine cells of the inner nuclear layer were studied to determine if they were still responsive to light in the retinas of rats with destroyed photoreceptors from long-term exposure to continuous illumination. One wk before sacrifice the animals housed in continuous light for 4 mo. were returned to normal 14 h light:10 h dark lighting conditions. At the end of this time they and a group of control rats housed in cyclic lighting conditions for the entire 4 mo. were dark adapted for approximately 15 h. Then the rate of retinal DA turnover was estimated from the depletion of DA following inhibition of DA synthesis by .alpha.-methyl p-tyrosine. The turnover of DA in the dark-adapted retinas of the control rats and of rats with photoreceptor degeneration was dramatically enhanced 2- to 4-fold by short-term exposure (up to 1 h) to light. Since rats are nocturnal and avoid light, the light aversion of another group of rats which were exposed to light for 4 mo. and returned to cyclic lighting conditions for 1 wk was tested. These rats and control animals maintained in cyclic lighting conditions for 4 mo. chose the dark side of a light-dark box over 80% of the time. This behavior of the rats with retinal degeneration implied their continued ability to detect light. The light-induced increase in DA activity in retinas with photoreceptor degeneration may play a role in the continued ability of these rats to perceive light.