Biochemical evidence for glutamate and/or aspartate as neurotransmitters in fibers from the visual cortex to the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (pulvinar) in rats.
The effects of visual cortex ablation on several neurotransmitter parameters in the lateral thalamic nucleus (pulvinar) in rats have been investigated. We found a 57% decrease in high affinity uptake of D-[3H]aspartate in the pulvinar after ablation of the ipsilateral visual cortex. The KCl-evoked release of exogenous D-[3H]aspartate and endogenous glutamate were decreased by 33 and 37%, respectively. Moreover, the contents of endogenous glutamate and aspartate were decreased by 35%, each. The glutamate decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase activities and the contents of other amino acids were not affected by the lesion. Our biochemical data indicate that glutamate and/or aspartate may be transmitters in the fibers from visual cortex to pulvinar in rats.
D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*
D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid