A note on synaptic structure of the retina of <i>Octopus vulgaris</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electron microscopy of the octopus retina shows that both types of synapse (formed by the visual cell collaterals and the efferents respectively) have synaptic membrane specializations with associated aggregations of synaptic vesicles—features usually regarded as indicative of synaptic contact. These have hitherto been considered as absent from the octopus retina. Other details of the retinal synapses are described and in addition the grouped microtubules in the initial portions of the optic axons are seen to have in association a regular pattern of micro filaments.