Purpose: To quantify the whole population of S- and L-cones in the albino (Sprague-Dawley, SD) and pigmented (Piebald Virol Glaxo, PVG) rats and to study their topographical distribution within the retina.
Methods: Retinal radial sections and whole-mounted retinas were double immunodetected with antibodies against UV-sensitive and L-opsins to detect the S- and L-cones, respectively. Two automated routines were developed to quantify the whole population of S- and L-cones. Detailed isodensity maps of each cone type were generated. In both strains, the presence of dual cones was detected, these were semiautomatically quantified and their distribution determined. The matching distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and L-cones was attained by double immunodetection of Brn3a and L-opsin, respectively.
Results: The mean number +/- SEM of L- or S-cones in SD and PVG retinas was 231,736 +/- 14,517 and 239,939 +/- 6,494 or 41,028 +/- 5,074, and 27,316 +/- 2,235, respectively. There was an increasing gradient of S-cone density along the inferonasal quadrant, although the highest densities were found in the retinal rims. The distribution of L-cones seemed to be complementary to the S-cones. The highest densities were observed in the superior nasotemporal axis, paralleling the distribution of Brn3a-positive RGCs.
Conclusions: These data establish, for the first time, the total number and the topographical distribution of S- and L-cones in two rat strains and demonstrate the correlation of L-cones and RGC spatial distribution.