What is the Difference Between Amacrine and Horizontal Cells?

Amacrine cells and horizontal cells are two types of interneurons in the retina that play crucial roles in processing visual information. They share some similarities but also have key differences:

Similarities:

• Both are inhibitory neurons.
• They work laterally, meaning they are involved in processing information across the retina.
• They have their cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer of the retina.

Differences:

• Location: Amacrine cells operate at the inner plexiform layer (IPL) in the retina, while horizontal cells operate at the outer plexiform layer.
• Inputs: Amacrine cells receive inputs from bipolar cells, while horizontal cells receive inputs from rod and cone cells.
• Outputs: Amacrine cells affect the output from bipolar cells, while horizontal cells are connected to the output of rod and cone cells.
• Specialization: Amacrine cells are often more specialized and are classified based on their dendrite morphology, field of connection, and neurotransmitter type. Horizontal cells, on the other hand, are responsible for the visual system's sensitivity to luminance contrast over a wide range of light.

In summary, amacrine and horizontal cells are both involved in processing visual information in the retina, but they differ in their locations, inputs, outputs, and degrees of specialization.

Comparative Table: Amacrine vs Horizontal Cells

Amacrine cells and horizontal cells are both interneurons in the retina that play crucial roles in visual processing. Here is a table comparing their differences:

Both amacrine and horizontal cells are retinal neurons that contribute to the processing of visual information, and they share some common features. However, they differ in their input sources, functions, and cell types.