Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 591, Issue 1, 18 September 1992, Pages 69-78
Brain Research

Research report
γ-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive structures in the nucleus tractus solitarius: a light and electron microscopic study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(92)90979-JGet rights and content

Abstract

γ-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive perikarya and boutons in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the cat were examined at both the light and electron microscopic level. Immunoreactive neurones were found predominantly in the parvocellular subdivision of the nucleus tractus solitarius and to a lesser degree in all the other subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarius and the dorsal vagal motonucleus. All the immunoreactive perikarya observed were similar in size and morphology. γ-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive boutons were observed througout the nucleus tractus solitarius. However, in contrast to its high content of immunoreactive perikarya the parvocellular subdivision contained the lowest density of immunoreactive boutons. Ultrastructural examination of immunoreactive boutons in the different regions of the nucleus tractus solitarius revealed that they formed synaptic specializations, predominantly with dendritic shafts, all of which were of the symmetric type. This pattern of innervation was observed throughout the medial, commissural, ventrolateral and parvocellular subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarius.

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