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Amino Acids as Excitatory Transmitters in the Retina

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Excitatory Amino Acids

Abstract

The retina is a part of the CNS which only recently has been taken into consideration as a model for studying synaptic mechanisms and their regulation. This organ exhibits characteristics which are experimentally convenient, for in addition to being readily accessible, the retina can be considered as a natural undamaged slice of 300 µ thickness through which substances can easily diffuse and which can be maintained in vitro for lasting periods of time due to its limited dependence on vascular support. Besides, specific cell types can be impaled and the whole retinal activity can be registered in the ERG. Physiologically, retinal response to its natural stimulus, light, can be followed, and biochemically, synaptic endings from different cell populations can be easily isolated as a consequence of its well defined layered organization (Neal and Atterwill, 1974).

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Authors
  1. A. M. López Colomé
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Southampton, UK

    Peter J. Roberts

  2. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Norway

    Jon Storm-Mathisen

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, UK

    Harry F. Bradford

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© 1986 The Editors and the Contributors

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Colomé, A.M.L. (1986). Amino Acids as Excitatory Transmitters in the Retina. In: Roberts, P.J., Storm-Mathisen, J., Bradford, H.F. (eds) Excitatory Amino Acids. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08479-1_10

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