Comparison of dark- and light-adapted carp retinas with NADPH diaphorase staining

The carp retina was examined by NADPH diaphorase histochemistry to determine if the staining pattern of retinal cells was changed depending on the adaptation state of the retina. When dark-adapted for 5 h, ellipsoids of inner segments of both rods and cones and some horizontal cells were heavily stained. Staining was also found in subpopulations of amacrine cells and ganglion cells. In addition, Muller cells were strongly positive for NADPH diaphorase. When light-adapted for 5h, ellipsoids of photoreceptors and ganglion cells were less intensely stained, whereas Muller cells and horizontal cells became negative for NADPH diaphorase. Furthermore, rod ON-center bipolar cells were clearly stained. The difference of staining of amacrine cells between dark- and light-adapted retinas was not significant. The differences in diaphorase-staining pattern between dark- and light-adapted retinas suggest that Muller cells, some horizontal cells and rod ON-center bipolar cells contain inducible nitric oxide synthase, whose induction depends on the adaptation state.