Decreased vascular supply leads to higher numbers of NADPH diaphorase amacrine cells in the degenerating mouse retina

NADPH diaphorase/neuronal nitric oxide synthase stained amacrine cells (NAC) are supposed to interact with the retinal vasculature. To study this hypothesis, the retinae of two different mouse strains and their controls were stained using the NADPH diaphorase technique labelling NAC and vessels. In the retina degeneration (rd) mouse, the total number of NAC in the first weeks during early retinal degeneration was slightly reduced. The number persisted in older animals and did not show the decrease described in normal mice. In the Norrie disease (nd) mouse, early vascular malformation lead to increased numbers of NAC. Although the progress of neural remodelling in the degenerated retina leads to a continuous loss of neurons in general, the NAC persist in higher numbers in parallel with a reduced vascular bed. Correspondence to: Dr. Christian Albrecht May, Department of Anatomy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Fetschertstr. 74, D-01307, Dresden, Tel: +49-351-4586105; Fax: +49-351-4586303; E-mail: [email protected]