Regional difference in the dendritic morphology of dopamine cells in carp retina

The dendritic morphology of dopamine (DA) cells in the inner plexiform layer of the retina of carp (body length, ca. 33 cm) was investigated by identifying their fluorescent cell bodies in isolated, aldehyde-fixed flat-mounts and injecting them iontophoretically with Lucifer yellow CH under microscopic control. Attention was paid to clarifying regional differences in their dendritic morphology. In the marginal zone within 0.25 mm from the retinal edge, the density of DA cells was extremely high (120 cells/mm2), their dendrites tended to extend in parallel with the retinal circumference, and the dendritic field size was small (2.5 X 10(-2) mm2). As the injection point was shifted centrally by steps, the dendrites of DA cells tended to extend toward the optic disc and subsequently toward the margin, finally forming a round or oval dendritic field for each cell. Concomitantly with such changes in the dendritic field, the cell density sharply decreased to about 30 cells/mm2, and the dendritic field size increased to 10 X 10(-2) mm2 in a zone 2-3 mm interior to the margin. However, the dendritic coverage factor was consistently about 3.0 over the entire retinal field. Such morphological changes observed sequentially from the retinal margin to the intermediate region represent a developmental course of DA cells in the carp retina.