Anatomical evidence for interactions between somatostatin neurites in lamina II of the rat spinal cord.
Light microscopic analysis of adult and 10-14-day-old rat spinal cords suggested that somatostatin-immunoreactive (SOM-I) fibers apposed SOM-I cell bodies in lamina (L) II. Electron microscopic analysis of these relationships at both ages showed the presence of direct appositions between SOM-I fibers and SOM-I cells. However, synapse formation between SOM-I fibers and cells was observed only in the young rat. Similarly, synapses between SOM-I fibers and SOM negative cell bodies were only found in the young animal. Adjacent SOM-I perikarya directly contacted each other, but, again, membrane specializations were evident only in the young rat. Within L I of the adult dorsal horn, a SOM-I fiber directly apposed an unlabeled cell body. Despite analysis of serial sections through the apposition, no synaptic contacts were observed.
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
L J
LJ
Hannan
R H
RH
Ho
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016501:Neurites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D013004:Somatostatin