Effects of kainic acid and piperidine dicarboxylic acid on displaced bipolar cells in the turtle retina.
An immunoreaction against glutamate was used to visualize photoreceptors, bipolar, and ganglion cells in the turtle retina. Incubation of the retina prior to fixation in kainic acid (9 microM) led to selective loss of glutamate-like immunoreactivity in OFF-centre bipolar cells, as judged by the loss of staining in the distal half of the inner plexiform layer. In addition, displaced bipolar cells and ganglion cells lost their immunoreactivity. Incubation of the retina in 2,3-cis piperidine dicarboxylate (1 mM) did not result in noticeable glutamate depletion in any cell but enhanced labelling in displaced bipolar cells. These findings suggest that all displaced bipolar cells in the turtle retina are depolarized by kainic acid and hyperpolarized by 2,3-cis piperidine dicarboxylate.