Observations on the synaptic organization of the retina of the albino rat: A light and electron microscopic study

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Abstract
An electron microscopic study of the retina of the albino rat, with particular emphasis on the synaptic organization of the inner and outer plexiform layers, has been correlated with specimens impregnated with a modified Golgi technique.The central element of the photoreceptor “triad” in the outer plexiform layer is a bipolar cell dendrite.Two types of synaptic contacts were observed in the inner plexiform layer, the “dyad” ribbon synapse and the conventional synapse. The postsynaptic elements of the “dyad” consisted of an amacrine process and a ganglion cell dendrite. Conventional synapses were made by amacrine processes which were usually presynaptic to bipolar terminals. Reciprocal synapses between processes making ribbon synapses and those making conventional synapses were seen.Golgi technique revealed the presence of two types of bipolar cells, three types of amacrine cells, and one type each of horizontal and ganglion cell.These findings are discussed in relation to reported receptive field organization.