EXTRACELLULAR AND ASYMMETRIC FORMS OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ARE EXPRESSED ON CHOLINERGIC AND NONCHOLINERGIC TERMINAL NEUROPIL OF THE DEVELOPING CHICK RETINA
Y. Reiss et al., EXTRACELLULAR AND ASYMMETRIC FORMS OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ARE EXPRESSED ON CHOLINERGIC AND NONCHOLINERGIC TERMINAL NEUROPIL OF THE DEVELOPING CHICK RETINA, Cell and tissue research, 286(1), 1996, pp. 13-22
Only two out of four major acetylcholinesterase (AChE) subbands in the
inner plexiform layer (IPL) of vertebrate retinae correspond to sites
of cholinergic synaptic transmission, as has been shown by the co-dis
tribution of AChE and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) staining. The f
unction and molecular identity of AChE in non-cholinergic subbands is
unknown. We have used immunocytochemical methods to compare the develo
pment of asymmetric or extracellularly localized AChE with that of tot
al AChE and ChAT in embryonic and adult chicken retinae. After injecti
on of the AChE-specific monoclonal antibody 3D10 into the vitreous bod
y of live embryos, a method that labels only extracellular AChE, five
subbands in the IPL were labelled, whereas cell somata or their radial
processes remained unstained. In contrast, the entire cell including
processes was immunoreactive, when the 3D10 antibody was applied to pe
rmeabilized cryosections, suggesting that in cell bodies the enzyme is
exclusively localized intracellularly. Compared with total AChE, dete
ction of asymmetric AChE with the monoclonal antibody 6B6 was delayed,
first being seen in cells of the inner nuclear layer and finally appe
aring on all subbands, reflecting more closely the course of synaptoge
nesis. Thus, extracellular and asymmetric forms of AChE are predominan
tly found on the terminal arbor neuropil of both cholinergic and nonch
olinergic IPL subbands. These data show a differential distribution of
extra- and intracellular AChE and suggest novel roles for the AChE in
non-cholinergic IPL subbands.