title: Zinc-containing fiber systems in the cochlear nuclei of the rat and mouse.
abstract: Zinc-containing neurons are cells which sequester zinc in the vesicles of their axonal boutons; such zinc-containing fiber systems have been previously shown to innervate many limbic and cerebrocortical brain regions. The present study of rats and mice shows that zinc-containing axons also innervate the cochlear nuclei, forming two morphologically-distinct projection systems. One zinc-containing pathway innervates the molecular stratum of the dorsal nucleus, supplying a diffuse, even band of neuropil staining throughout the stratum. The other pathway projects sparsely to the various small cell (granule cell) regions of the nuclei where the zinc-positive elements form scattered clusters and threads of bouton-like puncta amidst the granule neuron somata. Preliminary observations indicate that the pattern is the same in the cat as in the rat and mouse.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurobiology, University of Texas, Dallas, Richardson 75080.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Frederickson
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Haigh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danscher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002415:Cats; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc