Fos immunohistochemistry was used to characterize neurons in the chick retina activated by optokinetic and stationary stimuli. Higher percentages of co-localization of Fos and the α5 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and Fos and GABA were observed in retinal neurons after optokinetic compared to the stationary stimulation. These results indicate an involvement of the cholinergic and GABAergic circuitries in the motion detection by chick retinal cells.