A distinctive soma size gradient among catecholaminergic neurones of human retinae.

We have examined the soma diameters and distribution of catecholaminergic (CA) cells in human retinae, by using an antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme in the production of catecholamines. TH-immunoreactivity was detected in two classes of cells (CA1 and CA2 cells). CA1 cells had relatively large somata (mean diameter 14 microns) located in either the inner nuclear layer (INL) or in the ganglion cell layer and extensive dendrites spreading into the other strata of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). CA2 cells had smaller, weakly labelled somata (mean diameter 9.6 microns) located principally in the inner regions of the INL and weakly labelled dendrites extending into the IPL. The mean density of CA2 cells in the far retinal periphery was approximately 38/mm2. The number of CA1 cells averaged approximately 15,600 per retina, with a mean density of 16/mm2. The density distribution of CA1 cells closely paralleled the distribution of ganglion cells, their density peaking at the foveal rim, with an area of relatively high density extending horizontally from the macula region toward the nasal margin (along the visual streak). A distinctive gradient was detected among the soma diameters of CA1 cells: they were largest in the mid-periphery, in a visual streak-like configuration around the optic disk. This gradient of soma size among CA cells closely corresponds to the density distribution of the rod photoreceptors in human retinae.