Biomaterial Database

Synapses of the inner plexiform layer in the retina of cyprinid fish. 1983

I Holmgren-Taylor

Two types of synapses are known to occur in the inner plexiform layer of the vertebrate retina. The typical ribbon synapse has two postsynaptic elements, whereas the conventional synapse displays only one. Ribbon synapses are characteristic of bipolar cells, and the conventional synapses are seen in amacrine and interplexiform cells. Two varieties of conventional synapses with one postsynaptic element are described in the present study. One has the well-known presynaptic cluster of synaptic vesicles, whereas the other has several clusters surrounding dense globules. Furthermore, there are conventional synapses with two postsynaptic elements, called branched conventional synapses. They are most numerous in the middle of the inner plexiform layer and are characterized by a presynaptic aggregation of synaptic vesicles usually clustering around a dense globule. The neuronal processes with branched conventional synapses also have conventional synapses with one postsynaptic element and are therefore thought to be amacrine cell processes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D002347	Carps	Common name for a number of different species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. This includes, among others, the common carp, crucian carp, grass carp, and silver carp.	Carassius carassius,Crucian Carp,Cyprinus,Grass Carp,Carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus,Cyprinus carpio,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix,Koi Carp,Silver Carp,Carp, Crucian,Carp, Grass,Carp, Koi,Carp, Silver,Carps, Crucian,Carps, Grass,Carps, Silver,Crucian Carps,Grass Carps,Silver Carps
D003530	Cyprinidae	A family of freshwater fish comprising the minnows or CARPS.	Barbels,Chub,Dace,Minnows,Roach (Fish),Shiner,Tench,Tinca,Barbus,Rutilus rutilus,Tinca tinca,Chubs,Shiners,Tinca tincas,tinca, Tinca
D006054	Goldfish	Common name for Carassius auratus, a type of carp (CARPS).	Carassius auratus
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013569	Synapses	Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.	Synapse