Dopamine-immunoreactivity in the rat mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus: an ultrastructural analysis

Brain Research
R S LiemJ J Van der Want

Abstract

The ultrastructure and distribution of dopaminergic boutons within the rat mesencephalic trigeminal (Me5) nucleus was examined with the use of electronmicroscopic immunocytochemistry. A total of 5102 boutons, comprising axosomatic and axodendritic synaptic terminals as well as non-synaptic boutons (or varicosities), located in the ventrocaudal portion of Me5 was analysed. Approximately 20% of these boutons were dopamine-immunoreactive. Morphological analysis showed that the dopaminergic synaptic terminals, axodendritic as well as axosomatic, were exclusively of the S- and G-bouton type; they contained, respectively, small spherical vesicles or small pleomorphic vesicles in combination with large granular dense-cored vesicles. All dopaminergic varicosities in the Me5 were of the G-bouton type. Quantitative analysis revealed that most of the dopaminergic synaptic terminals in the Me5 nucleus contacted dendrites, while only a minority (12%) contacted Me5 somata. This dopaminergic somatic input comprised about half (52%) of the total axosomatic input on Me5 neurons. The present results and previous findings with respect to the prominent serotonergic component of the axosomatic input to Me5 neurons indicate that dopamine and seroton...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 13, 2008·Brain Research·Daniel J HilerMichael E Geusz
Oct 5, 2007·Brain Research Reviews·Nikolai E Lazarov
May 24, 2003·Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine : an Official Publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists·G J LavigneB J Sessle
Sep 14, 1999·Journal of Neurophysiology·C M PedroarenaF R Morales

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