The combined use of immunohistochemistry and intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase for light and electron microscopic studies of transmitter-identified inputs to functionally characterized neurons.
Physiologically identified triceps surae alpha motoneurons in the cat were stained intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After fixation with 2% glutaraldehyde and treatment with sodium borohydride, spinal cord sections were incubated with rabbit antiserum against thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and rabbit peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex. Light microscopically detected close contacts between immunoreactive nerve terminals and intracellularly HRP-stained profiles were studied under the electron microscope. In this way, synaptic contacts between TRH-immunoreactive boutons and functionally characterized alpha motoneurons could be demonstrated.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008722:Methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis*
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase