4-aminobutyrate: 2-oxoglutarate transaminase-containing neurons in the perinuclear zone of the rat supraoptic nucleus.
A pharmaco-histochemical method for demonstrating the enzyme 4-aminobutyrate: 2-oxoglutarate transaminase was applied to the sections of the rat supraoptic nucleus region. The reactions of GABAergic interneurons and their relationship to neurosecretory neurons were studied. Medium-sized neurons heavily stained for transaminase were detected in the perinuclear zone just dorsal to the supraoptic nucleus. Neurons within the supraoptic nucleus were not stained. However, the perikarya of some neurosecretory neurons in the dorsal region of the supraoptic nucleus, as well as in discrete groups scattered throughout the nucleus; were surrounded by the granular reaction products. The results strongly suggest that these strongly positive neurons in the perinuclear zone send axons to the supraoptic nucleus, where they richly divide into many branches, which synapse on the perikarya of some vasopressin and oxytocin cells.
D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase