Neuronal addition and retinal expansion during growth of the crucian carp eye

Abstract

Using standard paraffin technique the addition of new cells in crucian carp retinas was examined. Between eye diameters 4.4 and 10.0 mm the number of ganglion cells increases from 103,000 to 205,000, INL cells from 1.5 to 3 million, cones from 250,000 to 900,000, and rods from 2 to 9 million. Concomitantly retinal area increases fivefold and the cell densities decrease by 37% for the cones, 57% for th e INL cells, and 58% for the ganglion cells, while the rod density remains stable. In relation to the rods the cell ratios at different retinal loci undergo marked changes during growth. The contributions to retinal growth by addition of new neurons and by expansion of the retina have been determined for the different retinal layers. The layer of rods grows exclusively by addition of new rod mosaic. In the cone layer 81% of growth is due to addition of new cone mosaic. In the inner nuclear layer (INL) 56% of growth is due to addition of new cells and in the ganglion cell layer 52% is due to cell addition. In each case retinal expansion accounts for the remainder of increase in retinal area. On morphological grounds six cone types can be found in the crucian carp retina. Their ratios are constant during retinal growth and at different retinal loci.