Horizontal cells, the interneurons in the distal retina, provide feedback control of the photoreceptor synaptic output at the first synapse in the visual pathway. This article, using immunohistological and confocal microscopy techniques, presents anatomical evidence that in rat and mouse retina, the horizontal cell processes are in contact with retinal capillaries as are retinal glial cells. This glia-like property of horizontal cells in these two species, also previously reported in tree shrews by Knabe and Ochs (1999), appear to be a more common theme for these neurons than previously appreciated.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of a known synthetic steroid on vaginal epithelium as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. Biweekly vaginal smears from 10 multiparous, normally menstruating Indian females ages 21-40 were studied for 3 consecutive cycles, during which time they received Voldy's 21 oral contraceptive which contained both estrogen and progesterone. 7 of these cases acted as controls for themselves since their daily smears had been studied prior to the medication. In general, all smears had present a large number of leukocytes and Doderlein bacilli. There was a loss of cyclic pattern normally seen by midzonal maturation index, low karyopyknotic index, and the appearance of navicular cells with marked curling and folding of cells. The appearance of occasional cells having larger than a 5 micron-sized nucleus during the 2nd and 3rd cycles of medication may be suggestive of some significant effect with regard to the prolonged use of this oral contraceptive.