Demonstration of a substance P-like immunoreactivity in retinal cells of the rat.

The distribution of substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity in the rat retina was investigated by immunohistochemistry. SP-positive cells were found throughout the retina. The majority of them were located in the proximal portion of the inner nuclear layer and the processes from these cells directed to the inner plexiform layer where they ramified, suggesting that SP-positive cells located in this region probably are amacrine cells. Few SP-positive cells were seen within the ganglion cell layer. They were considered displaced amacrine cells.