Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Histochemical localization of zinc in the feline tapetum

Effect of taurine depletion

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

High resolution electron microscopy of ultrathin sections confirms the presence of a membrane surrounding the tapetal rods in the cat. Cats depleted of taurine exhibit disruption and disorganization of this membrane, probably the first stage of more severe tapetal degeneration. Histochemical localization of zinc shows it to be present on the periphery of the tapetal rods. The amount of zinc present on the periphery of the tapetal rods of taurine depleted cats was greatly reduced. Taurine in feline tapetum, confirmed by autoradiography and direct measurement, was also greatly reduced in taurine-depleted cats. We conclude that both taurine and zinc are localized on the periphery of the tapetal rods and that they contribute to the stability of the membrane. We have also confirmed earlier reports that the cat tapetal rods contain riboflavin and no detectable cysteine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barbeau A, Donaldson J (1974) Zinc, taurine, and epilepsy. Arch Neurol 30:52–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein MH, Pease DC (1959) Electron microscopy of the tapetum lucidum of the cat. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 5:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein MH, Pease DC (1959) Electron microscopy of the tapetum lucidum of the cat. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 5:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Berson EL, Hayes KD, Rabin AR, Schmidt SY, Watson G (1976) Retinal degeneration in cats fed casein. II Supplementation with methionine, cysteine, or taurine. Invest Ophthalmol 15:52–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloyd GG, Wyman M, Shadduck JA, Winrow MJ, Johnson GR (1978) Ocular toxicity studies with zinc pyridinethione. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 45:771–778

    Google Scholar 

  • Coles JA (1971) Some reflective properties of the tapetum lucidum of the cat's eye. J Physiol 212:393–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Croft LR (1972) Isolation of a zinc protein from the tapetum lucidum of the cat. Biochem J 130:303–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreost IE, Manuel SJ, Buckley RA, Fraser FJ, Recard IR (1981) The effect of late prenatal and/or early postnatal zinc deficiency on the development and some biochemical aspects of the cerebellum and hippocampus in rats. Life Sci 28:2133–2141

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott JH, Futterman S (1963) Fluorescence in the tapetum of the cat's eye. Arch Ophthalmol 70:137–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaitonde MK (1967) A spectrophotometric method for the direct determination of cysteine in the presence of other naturally occurring amino acids. Biochem J 104:627–633

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes KD, Rabin AR, Berson EL (1975a) An ultrastructural study of nutritionally induced and reversed retinal degeneration in cats. Am J Pathol 78:505–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes KC, Carey RE, Schmidt SY (1975b) Retinal degeneration associated with taurine deficiency in the cat. Science 188:949–951

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibata Y, Otsuka A (1969) Electron microscopic demonstration of zinc in the hippocampal formation using Timm's sulfide-silver technique. J Histochem Cytochem 17:171–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler T (1981) Histochemical and cytochemical demonstration of zinc cysteinate in the tapetum lucidum of the cat. Histochemistry 70:173–178

    Google Scholar 

  • McLardy T (1962) Zinc enzymes and the hippocampal mossy fibre system. Nature 194:300–302

    Google Scholar 

  • McLardy T (1974) Prolonged blockade by taurine of dentatohippocampus synapse in rats. IRCS 2:1696

    Google Scholar 

  • Niklowitz WJ (1969) Cytomorphological alterations of mossy fiber boutons of the hippocampus produced by 3-acetylpyridine, methoxypyridine, reserpine, and iproniazid. Z Zellforsch 101:192–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker MM, Humoller FL, Mahler DJ (1967) Determination of copper and zinc in biological material. Clin Chem 13:40–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen OO, Karlsen RL (1980) The toxic effect of L-cysteine on the rat retina: A morphological and biochemical study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 19:886–892

    Google Scholar 

  • Pihl E, Falkmer S (1967) Trials to modify the sulfide-silver method for ultrastructural tissue localization of heavy metals. Acta Histochem 27:34–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirie A (1966) The chemistry and structure of the tapetum lucidum in animals. In: Graham-Jones O (ed) Aspects of comparative ophthalmology. Pergamon Press, New York, pp 57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabin AR, Hayes KC, Berson EL (1973) Cone and rod responses in nutritionally induced retinal degeneration in the cat. Invest Ophthalmol 12:694–704

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodieck RW (1973) The vertebrate retina: Principles of structure and function. W.H. Freeman, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers AW (1979) Techniques of autoradiography. Elsevier/North Holland Biochemical Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth LJ, Stumpf WE (1969) Autoradiography of diffusable substances. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt SY, Berson EL, Hayes KC (1976) Retinal degeneration in cats fed casein. I. Taurine deficiency. Invest Ophthalmol 15:45–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturman JA (1973) Taurine pool sizes in the rat: effects of vitamin B6 deficiency and high taurine diet. J Nutr 103:1566–1580

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturman JA, Hayes KC (1980) The biology of taurine in nutrition and development. Adv Nutr Res 3:231–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Timm F (1958a) Zur Histochemie der Schwermetalle. Das Sulfid-Silberverfahren. Dtsch Z Gerichtl Med 46:706–711

    Google Scholar 

  • Timm F (1958b) Zur Histochemie des Ammonshorngebietes. Z Zellforsch 48:548–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel M (1978) Postnatal development of the cat's retina. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 54:1–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Euler C (1962) On the significance of the high zinc content in the hippocampal formation. In: Passonant P (ed) Physiologie de l'hippocampe. Cell Intern du CNRS no 107. Edition du CNRS, Paris, pp 135–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner-Jauregg T (1972) Riboflavin chemistry. In: Sebrell WH, Harris RS (eds) The vitamins, Vol 5. Academic Press, New York, pp 3–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitzel G (1956) Chemie und Physiologie biogener Zink-Verbindungen. Angew Chem 68:566–573

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitzel G, Strecker FJ, Roester U, Buddecke E, Fretzdorff AM (1954) Zinc in tapetum lucidum. Hoppe Seyler Z Physiol Chem 296:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Weitzel G, Buddecke E, Fretzdorff AM, Strecker FJ, Roester U (1955) Struktur der im Tapetum lucidum von Hund und Fuchs enthaltenen Zinkverbindung. Hoppe Seyler Z Physiol Chem 299:193–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen GY, Sturman JA, Wisniewski HM, Lidsky AA, Cornwell AC, Hayes KC (1979) Tapetum disorganization in taurine-depleted cats. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 18:1101–1106

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisniewski HM, Bloom BR (1975) Experimental allergic optic neuritis (EAON) in the rabbits. J Neurol Sci 24:257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamada E (1958) The fine structure of the tapetum of the kitten eye as revealed by the electron microscope. J Ultrastruct Res 1:359–364

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathological Neurobiology, N.Y. State Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation, 1050 Forest Hill Road, 10314, Staten Island, NY

    J. A. Sturman, G. Y. Wen, H. M. Wisniewski & K. C. Hayes

  2. Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 02115, Boston, MA, USA

    J. A. Sturman, G. Y. Wen, H. M. Wisniewski & K. C. Hayes

Authors
  1. J. A. Sturman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Y. Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. M. Wisniewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. C. Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sturman, J.A., Wen, G.Y., Wisniewski, H.M. et al. Histochemical localization of zinc in the feline tapetum. Histochemistry 72, 341–350 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501776

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501776

Keywords

Search

Navigation