Abstract
Recently, in addition to conventional neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine, glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), putative neuroactive peptide transmitters have been localized to specific retinal amacrine cells1. In particular, opiate receptors2,3, assayable enkephalin immunoreactivity4 and enkephalin-immunoreactive neurones1,5 have been described in avian and mammalian retinae. However, little physiological evidence has been obtained for the involvement of neuropeptides in retinal function. Here we report that exogenous opiates affect both the release of GABA from GABAergic amacrine cells and the firing patterns of ganglion cells in the goldfish retina6. Our results show that the output of the retina is modulated by an opiate system whose neural organization and pharmacological properties resemble those described elsewhere in the vertebrate central nervous system.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stell, W., Marshak, D., Yamada, T., Brecha, N. & Karten, H. Trends Neurosci. 3, 292–295 (1980).
Medzhiradsky, F. Brain Res. 108, 212–219 (1976).
Howells, R. D., Groth, J., Hiller, J. M. & Simon, E. J. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther. 215, 60–64 (1980).
Brecha, N., Karten, H. J. & Laverack, C. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 3010–3014 (1979).
Humbert, J., Pradelles, P., Gros, C. & Dray, F. Neurosci. Lett. 12, 259–263 (1979).
Djamgoz, M. B. A. & Stell, W. K. Soc. Neurosci Abstr. 6, 613 (1980).
Mudge, A. W., Leeman, S. E. & Fischbach, G. D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 526–530 (1979).
Marc, R. E., Stell, W. K., Bok, D. & Lam, D. M. K. J. comp. Neurol. 182, 221–245 (1978).
Lam, D. M. K. et al. Neurochemistry 1, 183–191 (1980).
Sarthy, P. V. & Lam, D. M. K. J. Neurochem. 32, 1269–1277 (1977).
Chin, C. A. & Lam, D. M. K. J. Physiol., Lond. 308, 185–195 (1980).
Simon, E. J. & Miller, J. M. A. Rev. Pharmac. Tox. 18, 317–394 (1978).
North, R. A. Life Sci. 24, 1527–1546 (1978).
Zieglgansberger, W., French, E. D., Siggins, G. R. & Bloom, F. E. Science 205, 415–417 (1979).
Lee, H. K., Dunwiddie, T. & Hoffer, B. Brain Res. 184, 331–342 (1980).
Nicoll, R. A., Alger, B. E. & Jahr, C. E. Nature 287, 22–25 (1980).
Brennan, M. J. W., Cantrill, R. C. & Wylie, B. A. Life Sci. 27, 1097–1101 (1980).
Coutinho-Netto, J., Abdul-Ghani, A.-S. & Bradford, H. F. Biochem. Pharmac. 29, 2777–2780 (1980).
Miller, R. F. in The Neurosciences, 4th Study Program (eds Schmitt, F. O. & Worden, F. G.) 227–245 (MIT Press, Cambridge and London, 1979).
Daw, N. W. J. Physiol., Lond. 197, 567–592 (1968).
Marc, R. E. in Colour Vision Deficiencies V (ed. Verriest, G.) 15–29 (Adam Hilger, Bristol, 1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Djamgoz, M., Stell, W., Chin, CA. et al. An opiate system in the goldfish retina. Nature 292, 620–623 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292620a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/292620a0
This article is cited by
-
Regulatory peptides in the eye
Experientia (1987)
-
Enkephalin in the goldfish retina
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (1986)
-
Retinal neuropeptides in the skates, Raja clavata, R. radiata, R. oscellata (Elasmobranchii)
Cell and Tissue Research (1985)
-
Interactions between enkephalin and GABA in avian retina
Nature (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.