The cytoskeleton-associated neuronal calcium-binding protein caldendrin is expressed in a subset of amacrine, bipolar and ganglion cells of the rat retina

Caldendrin is a novel calcium-binding protein confined to the somatodendritic compartment of neurons. Here we have studied the expression pattern of caldendrin in the rat retina. First we assessed the distribution of caldendrin transcripts in the adult and developing retina by in situ hybridization. In the adult retina, transcripts are expressed mainly in the inner half of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and to a lesser extent in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). During development labeling of the inner part of the cytoblast layer, where amacrine cells reside, is already present at postnatal day 1 (P1). The intensity of hybridization signal in this sublamina of the developing INL increases up to P8, whereas significant labeling in the GCL was first found at P14, coinciding with eye opening. Immunodetection with a polyclonal antibody revealed intensive staining of cells in the inner retina, which are presumably mainly amacrine and significantly fewer bipolar and ganglion cells. All parvalbumin-containing AII amacrines were immunopositive for caldendrin. Colocalization with calbindin was found in cone bipolar cells, the majority of AII amacrines, and calbindin-positive cells in the GCL. In the GCL, caldendrin was also colocalized with calretinin-immunopositive cells. Most caldendrin-positive amacrine cells in the adult rat retina were glycinergic and only a few were GABAergic. In retinal flat mounts, it was confirmed that less than 10% of retrogradely labeled retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are caldendrin-positive. Caldendrin immunoreactivity does not colocalize with tyrosine hydroxylase, VIP, substance P and somatostatin immunoreactivity. In summary, caldendrin expression is regulated differentially in retinal cell types during development and is restricted to a subpopulation of amacrine, bipolar, and ganglion cells, suggesting specific functions in the developing and mature retina.