GABA-like immunoreactivity in the developing chick retina: differentiation of GABAergic horizontal cell and its possible contacts with photoreceptors.

The morphology of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing horizontal cells was examined in mature and developing chick retinas by GABA immunocytochemistry. In the outer plexiform layer of the mature retina, GABA-immunoreactive components were located in three different sublayers. In the inner (vitreal) layer most positively-stained fibres were laterally oriented processes from horizontal cells. Thick processes were found in the middle layer, and the relatively thin fibres in the outer (scleral) layer showed a concave curvature, suggesting their termination on photoreceptor terminals. By electron microscopy it was found that the principal cone pedicles were usually indented by immunoreactive lateral neurites of horizontal cells but that rod spherules faced only occasionally immunoreactive fibres. Accessory cones and single cones were also not usually indented by immunoreactive fibres. These observations may indicate that horizontal cells regulate the excitation of cone photoreceptors by several different inhibitory mechanisms. During retinal development, horizontal cells begin to extend lateral fibres by the ninth embryonic day, and some GABAergic horizontal cells also possess inwardly extending fibres until embryonic day 11. Between embryonic days 13 and 15, some immunoreactive cells were found among the bipolar cells, suggesting that they were still migrating to their final position. On embryonic day 17, the staining pattern was very similar to that of the mature retina. These results suggest that GABA immunohistochemistry may be an excellent tool for studying horizontal cell differentiation.