Expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase in retinal ganglion cell layer of postnatal golden hamster depends on light stimulation

Abstract

NADPH-d positive neurons in the retina of golden hamsters have been identified to be a subset of amacrine cells. Previous work has suggested that NADPH-d expressing amacrine cells in postnatal hamsters might be involved in the processing of visual function. The present study using histochemistry focuses on the changes of the expression of NADPH-d in the retina of postnatal hamsters reared in deprived normal light conditions. Prior to eye opening, P12 hamster pups were subjected to either bilateral eyelid suture or dark rearing. On P28 a subgroup of light deprived hamsters was returned to normal light conditions and the expression of NADPH-d activities in the retina was assessed. In hamsters reared in the normal 12:12 light-dark cycle condition, the number of NADPH-d amacrine cells in GCL increased gradually right after eye opening to reach the adult level. In contrast, hamsters subjected to both bilateral eyelid suture and dark rearing, the number of NADPH-d amacrine cells in GCL was maintained at a low level but up-regulated when returned to normal light-dark condition. This study demonstrates that the expression of NADPH-d in the retina of postnatal hamsters depends on the light stimulation implying that NADPH-d amacrine cells might play a role in processing of visual function.