Mapping photoreceptor and postreceptoral labelling patterns using a channel permeable probe (agmatine) during development in the normal and RCS rat retina

The aim of this study was to determine whether agmatine, a channel permeable probe, can identify photoreceptor dysfunction in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) retina at an earlier stage to that shown by apoptosis or anatomical markers, and also characterize the neurochemical development of the inner retina in the normal and degenerating rat. We used isolated retinas at different ages incubated in physiological media containing agmatine. Subsequently, postembedding immunocytochemistry was used to determine the number of labelled photoreceptors and the labelling pattern within postreceptoral neurons. Agmatine labelling patterns revealed a sequential development of retinal neurons beginning at postnatal day (PND)11/12 with most horizontal cells, a few ganglion and amacrine cells, showing a strong signal. The neurochemical development progressed rapidly, and reflects to a large part the known distribution of glutamate receptors, with inner nuclear labelling being evident by PND14, continuing with the same pattern of labelling in adulthood for the control retina. The RCS retina showed markedly reduced agmatine labelling in the inner retina at PND20. A rapid increase in photoreceptor AGB labelling was evident during the degeneration phase. Multiple samples at PND14 and PND16 confirmed a significant increase of labelled photoreceptors in the RCS retina.