Noradrenaline-like terminals in the cat nucleus ventralis posterior of the thalamus.
Noradrenaline-like immunoreactivity in the cat nucleus ventralis posterior of the thalamus was investigated using an indirect immunocytochemical technique. Specific antinoradrenaline antibodies, raised in rabbits, were used. It was first verified that these antibodies recognize noradrenaline cells bodies of the locus coeruleus and their ascending axons in the ascending noradrenergic tract. In the nucleus ventralis posterior itself, noradrenaline-like fibers were observed. They were either randomly distributed or grouped around nonlabeled cell bodies. These neurons were generally oblong and measured 60-80 microns. With electron microscopy, preliminary results showed immunoreactive fibers in close apposition to unlabeled cell bodies or dendrites. The precise nature of these profiles was sometimes difficult to ascertain, since experiments were done in presence of detergent. In some cases symmetric synapses might be observed between immunoreactive axon terminals and unlabeled dendrites. The specificity of the reaction is discussed in the light of several control experiments.
Delagrange
P
P
Institut des Neurosciences, CNRS-Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
Conrath
M
M
Geffard
M
M
Tadjer
D
D
Bouyer
J J
JJ
Rougeul
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D009638:Norepinephrine