Localization of taurine transporter, taurine, and zinc in goldfish retina.

Taurine and zinc interact during structural and functional development of the rat retina and during the process of regeneration of retinal fragments from goldfish. These observations formed the basis for evaluating the regional correlation between the localization of the taurine transporter, taurine content and labile zinc content in goldfish retina. In the retina, the taurine transporter is expressed in photoreceptors, the outer plexiform layer, the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. Taurine was detected in photoreceptors, the outer and inner nuclear layers, the outer plexiform layer and the ganglion cell layer. A large amount of labile zinc was detected in photoreceptors and to a lesser extent in ganglion cells. The taurine transporter, taurine and zinc coexist in photoreceptors and the ganglion cell layer. Their co-localization in photoreceptors may be related to the neuro-protective role of taurine and zinc in this layer. By contrast, their co-existence in ganglion cells may be related to their involvement in cell differentiation, development, and regeneration. This reveals the importance of taurine and zinc in maintaining normal cellular function in these particular layers of the retina.