Green-sensitive cone photoreceptors are selectively labeled by Procion yellow dye in goldfish retina

Abstract

Selective labeling of intravitreal Procion yellow dye by presumed blue-sensitive cone photoreceptors has been demonstrated in primate retina. To determine whether Procion yellow is selective for this cone type in an unrelated vertebrate species, labeling by this dye was studied in goldfish retina, where cone pigment type can be directly inferred from photoreceptor morphology. At low vitreal concentrations of the dye (less than 0.4%), only cone outer segments were labeled. At vitreal concentrations of 0.4-0.5%, the inner segments of short-double cones and a subset of long single cones (presumed green-sensitive cones) were selectively stained. At still higher vitreal concentrations (0.6-0.7%), the inner segments of short-single cones and miniature short-single cones (presumed blue-sensitive cones) showed evidence of Procion label, but were not as heavily labeled. The inner segments of long-double cones and a subset of long-single cones (presumed red-sensitive cones) did not label at any of these concentrations. These results show that Procion yellow is not a selective marker for blue-sensitive cones in the goldfish retina. In addition, stained rod and cone nuclei were observed at each dye concentration, including those concentrations at which no inner segments were labeled.