ISSN:
1059-910X
Keywords:
Dopamine
;
Locus coeruleus
;
Rat
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General
Notes:
Dopaminergic innervation of the rat locus coeruleus (LC) was immunohistochemically studied by using monoclonal antibody directed against dopamine (DA) at the light- and electron-microscopic levels. A dense plexus of DA-immunoreactive (IR) varicose fibers was found not only in the cell body area of the LC but also in the dendritic area. Three hundred and forty DA-IR terminal boutons were observed. They were distributed in a wide range of diameters of 0.1-1.8 μm but most of them were large (mean value: 0.98 μm). Sixty-nine percent formed an asymmetric synapse. There were many axo-spinous connections. Small dendrites less than 0.3 μm in diameter displaying synaptic specialization were mostly dendritic spines (75%). Most of the target dendrites seemed to be noradrenergic in nature. It is suggested that dopaminergic innervation may play a powerful role in control mechanisms of activity of NA-containing neurons of the LC. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jemt.1070290306
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