Effect of neonatal optic nerve transection on some classes of amacrine cells in the rat retina.

An optic nerve section of the right eye of rat pups was carried out and the retina of the left and right eyes analyzed eight weeks later. Immunocytochemical studies for the localization of tyrosine-hydroxylase, choline acetyltransferase and substance P in amacrine cells revealed no qualitative differences in the distribution of the cell bodies or dendrites for the right and left retinas. Biochemical analysis showed a higher level of choline acetyltransferase, dopamine and glutamate decarboxylase in the right than in the left retina, though the glutamate decarboxylase difference was statistically insignificant. The biochemical difference is thought to reflect the differences in the protein or wet weight content of the retinas due to degeneration of the ganglion cells. It is concluded that destruction of the ganglion cells has no obvious effect upon the development or survival of some classes of amacrine cells.