[NADPH-D reactive choroid ganglion cells in the human].

BACKGROUND

The demonstration of uveal ganglion cells has been investigated so far by silver impregnation, rather complicated neurohistochemical methods and by electron microscopy. We present the first results of a simple method in flat-preparation of the human choroid.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Donors' eyes for cornea transplantation, 5 men, 3 women, aged 45 +/- 13 years, with postmortal time of preparation of 12 +/- 9 h (1 h-24 h) were used. After removal of the cornea with scleral ring, flat-preparations of the choroid were treated by the standard Nicotinamide-Adenine-Dinucleotide-Phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase reaction, mounted on coated slides in Kayser's glycerol-gelatin and observed by light microscope.

RESULTS

NADPH-diaphorase reaction reveals abundant aggregates of ganglion cells, with nets of dendrites and axons in the otherwise unstained flat-preparation of the human choroidea. They are more abundant in the layer close to the sclera.

CONCLUSION

NADPH-diaphorase reaction is a simple method for the detection of ganglion cells in the human choroid. Their unexpectedly high number suggests yet unknown ganglional functions in the uvea.