Scanning electron microscopic studies on the synaptic bodies in the rat retina

Summary The ultrastructure of the synaptic bodies in the outer and inner plexiform layers of the rat retina was studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopy.The synaptic bodies in the outer plexiform layer are pear-shaped and their vitreal pole invaginated by processes from nerve cells. Their surfaces are covered with extracellular material, which is partly dissolved or redistributed during the fixation and rinsing procedure. The internal structure of the synaptic bodies is described.The synaptic bodies in the inner retinal plexiform layer are more difficult to identify with the scanning electron microscope. They are polyhedronal and also covered with extracellular material.The observations are discussed. The value of the application of two different preparation and analyzing methods, i. e. the scanning and the transmission electron microscopy, is stressed.Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B70-12X-2543-02), Expressens prenatalforskningsfond and Riksföreningen mot Cancer (265-B69-01X).