Amacrine
Amacrine Cell
Amacrine cells (/əˈmæk.rɪn/; from Greek 'ama', meaning 'privative' and 'krinein', meaning 'to separate') are interneurons in the retina. They play a crucial role in the visual pathway, contributing to the processing of visual information before it is transmitted to the brain.
Function
Amacrine cells are responsible for 70% of input to retinal ganglion cells, with the remaining input coming from bipolar cells. They are involved in complex processing and integration of visual information, including contrast sensitivity and direction selectivity.
Types
There are about 30 different types of amacrine cells, each with unique functions and morphology. Some of the most well-known types include the starburst amacrine cell, which is involved in direction selectivity, and the AII amacrine cell, which plays a key role in night vision.
Structure
Amacrine cells are typically characterized by their lack of axons. They have a cell body from which dendrites radiate. These dendrites can make synapses with either bipolar cells or ganglion cells, allowing for a wide range of interactions.
Clinical Significance
Changes in amacrine cells have been associated with several eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Understanding the function and structure of these cells can therefore contribute to the development of treatments for these conditions.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amacrine
- Wikipedia's article - Amacrine
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