SEQUENTIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF RETINAL CELLS IN MOUSE STUDIED BY DIAPHORASE STAINING

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (APR) , 273-282
Abstract
During retinal development of mice the early stages of differentiation of ganglion, amacrine and horizontal cells are marked by high diaphorase activity. The reaction in the ganglion cells at day 12 of gestation was localized near the axonal end, but later shifted to the scleral side. Amacrine cells were first detected on day 16, and showed a transient activity at the initial stage. Large amacrine cells appeared at day 7 after birth and showed high TPN diaphorase activity in their processes. The horizontal cells could be followed from the 16th day and their activity increased during the period of formation of the outer plexiform layer. Along the outer limiting membrane diaphorase activity was marked from day 13 of embryonic life, and seemed to concentrate later in the rod inner segments. Activity in the bipolar cells first appeared at day 7 after birth, and further increased during the synaptic development in the outer plexiform layer. Activity in the Mueller cells appeared around 14 days after birth, and was most pronounced in the inner processes and basal end feet. The cellular interrelationships during retinal histogenesis were discussed.