Starburst amacrine cells in cat retina are associated with bistratified, presumed directionally selective, ganglion cells.

Starburst amacrine cells of cat retina are similar in form, though more delicate and less profusely branched, when compared to the starburst/cholinergic amacrine cells of rabbit retina, as identified in Golgi preparations. In both species, type a cells branch in the middle of sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), but type b (displaced) starburst amacrine cells of cat branch near the a/b sublaminar border (stratum 3) of the IPL, not in the middle of sublamina b (stratum 4), as do those of rabbit. Nevertheless, in each species, this starburst substratum in sublamina b coincides with the sublamina b-level branching of a bistratified ganglion cell, which in rabbit retina shows directionally selective responses. It is proposed that starburst amacrine cells of cat retina are cholinergic and, as in rabbit retina, make selective connections with on-off directionally selective ganglion cells.