Selective uptake of Lucifer Yellow into different cell populations of the developing chicken retina

Whole chick embryo eyes at different stages of development were incubated in a solution of Lucifer Yellow (LY) and examined in frozen sections. Different cell populations selectively take up the dye during the course of development: from embryonic day 4 - day 8 of incubation (E4-E8) only a subpopulation of neuroepithelial cells are stained, which at E7-E8 are located mainly near the periphery between the prospective ora serrata and the outer edge of the retina. This staining disappears after E8. A second phase starts at E10, with a weak but specific staining of a small population of cells in the outer nuclear layer which becomes less pronounced by E12. Starting around E10.5 a bright staining of cells in the innermost part of the inner nuclear layer can be observed. Their size, shape and location suggest that most of them represent a subclass of amacrine cells (including all 'displaced amacrine cells'). Beginning at E15, the staining pattern becomes more complex. A single cell analysis of the percentage of LY-stained cells which are stained either before or after papain-treatment and dissociation of the intact tissue confirms and extends the histological findings.