| The morphologies of intact retina and acutely isolated retinal neurons are described for a relatively newcomer model for studies of visual physiology, the hybrid bass (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilus). These features are indistinguishable from the white bass (M. chrysops) at the light microscopic level. In situ immunolocalization patterns for several glial and neuronal markers also match previous work in the white bass. Carbonic anhydrase is found in retinal layers corresponding to Muller (glial) cells and horizontal cells; glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glutamine synthetase are found in Muller cells only; and the intermediate M{dollar}sb{lcub}rm r{rcub}{dollar} subunit of the neurofilament triplet protein, NF160, is found in layers surrounding cone horizontal cell bodies only.; When hybrid bass retinas are acutely dissociated and the resulting isolated cells are immunolabelled for the same four markers, the results confirm the interpretations from in situ experiments. Moreover, when cells are cultured for periods of 5-15 days, immunolabelling patterns do not change. In particular, the cell adhesion carbohydrate epitope, HNK-1, is preferentially expressed on type 1 cone horizontal cells, which are extending new neurites, and all cone horizontal cell types continue to express carbonic anhydrase. The cytochemical similarities between Muller (glial) cells and horizontal cells are discussed. |
