Glycine receptor immunoreactivity is localized at amacrine synapses in cat retina.

Immunocytochemical techniques were used to localize strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in cat retina. Light microscopy showed staining in processes ramifying throughout the inner plexiform layer and in cell bodies of both amacrine and ganglion cells. At the electron-microscopic level, receptor immunoreactivity was seen to be clustered at sites postsynaptic to amacrine cells. In contrast, bipolar cells were neither presynaptic nor postsynaptic elements at sites of glycine receptor staining. Double-label studies verified the presence of glycine immunoreactivity in amacrine terminals presynaptic to glycine receptors. These findings support a role for glycine as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in amacrine cells.