Adrenergic retinal neurons of some new world monkeys

Summary The retina of Aotes monkeys, Cebus monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and marmosets were investigated. Adrenergic perikarya were found in the innermost cell rows of the inner nuclear layer of all the investigated species. In addition, the Cebus monkey was found to have a special type of adrenergic neurons in the inner nuclear layer. This cell type was called the adrenergic pleomorph cell. Its processes ramify in the inner nuclear and inner plexiform layers. Adrenergic terminals occur in three more or less well developed sublayers of the inner plexiform layer, the layers being best developed in the Cebus monkey. Adrenergic terminals were also found around the cells of the inner nuclear layer and at the horizontal cells, where a scant sublayer is formed. More than one adrenergic sublayer of the inner plexiform layer has not been observed in primates previously, nor have the adrenergic terminals in the inner nuclear layer been observed previously in any species. The adrenergic pleomorph cells of the Cebus monkey also seem to be unique. The marked differences even between animals as closely related as some platyrhine monkeys call for caution when comparing the detailed function of the retina in different animals.This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B69-14X-2321-02) and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, and was carried out within a research group sponsored by the Swedish Medical Research Council (projects No. B69-14X-56-05C and B69-14X-712-04C).