Substance P receptor is known to provide a principal interface between
tachykinin peptides and tachykinin-sensitive cells in retinal circuit
ry and to produce several physiological functions such as excitation o
f ganglion cells. We reported results of in situ hybridization analysi
s of substance P receptor in rat retina using digoxigenin-labeled RNA
probes to yield discrete cell labeling. Distinct hybridization signal
was present in a great majority of ganglion cells that provide retinal
fibers to a central target. It was also present in a subpopulation of
amacrine cells. Following optic nerve crush, ganglion cells lost thei
r hybridization signal in a time-dependent manner, while hybridization
-positive amacrine cells were persistently seen. From the results, we
identified the hybridization message as distinctly localized to two sy
stems, output cells and intrinsic cells in retinal circuitry.