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Responses of boutons and glia in the hypoglossal nucleus to injection of α- or β-bungarotoxin into the tongue

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Summary

Somatic bouton frequencies, and percent coverage of perikaryal circumference by boutons, microglia, astrocytes, or other structures, were measured on electron micrographs of the left hypoglossal nucleus of adult male albino rats after injections, into the left side of the tongue, of either α-bungarotoxin or β-bungarotoxin in a buffered saline solution (PBS). Control rats were injected with PBS alone. Values from bungarotoxin-treated rats were compared statistically with those from controls and normal rats.

Somatic bouton frequencies and percent coverage of perikarya by boutons, were reduced in all the β-bungarotoxin-treated rats when compared with control or normal values. The control values were normal. In α-bungarotoxin-treated rats somatic bouton frequencies were reduced in four of the six rats, and percent coverage of perikarya by boutons in three of the six rats.

A few microglia (up to 3.1% coverage) were present in β-bungarotoxin-treated rats, but none were found in α-bungarotoxin-treated rats, controls, or normals.

Percent coverage of perikarya by astrocyte was significantly much higher than normal in bungarotoxin-treated rats, and higher than normal in the controls. Conversely, percent coverage by other structures was reduced in bungarotoxin-treated rats and controls.

It is suggested that boutons and glia respond to different stimuli, and that the behaviour of the microglia is dependent on the condition of the hypoglossal nerve and not on bouton behaviour.

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  1. Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Teviot Place, EH8 9AG, Edinburgh, Scotland

    B. E. H. Sumner

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  1. B. E. H. Sumner
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Sumner, B.E.H. Responses of boutons and glia in the hypoglossal nucleus to injection of α- or β-bungarotoxin into the tongue. Exp Brain Res 36, 387–392 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238920

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238920

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