Concentration of dopaminergic fibres in the marginal zone of the bird retina.

Nerve fibres containing dense core vesicles of 100-160 nm diameter are concentrated in a narrow zone (near the ora serrata) of the marginal retina in the pigeon and the chicken. Synaptic junctions exist between terminals containing dense core vesicles and the most marginal ganglion cells; however, numerous fibres seem to end freely near the vitreous body or even penetrate the pars plana of the ciliary body. Histofluorescence demonstrates the aminergic nature of these fibres. Determination of catecholamines with the dansylation technique reveals six times more dopamine in the marginal than in the central retina, whereas the noradrenalin level is unchanged. The dopaminergic fibres originate in neurons of the innermost zone of the inner nuclear layer. The marginal localisation of these fibres apparently excluding any visual function seems rather to indicate a possible photoreceptor system involved in neuro-endocrine regulation.