Immunohistochemical evidence for colocalization of gamma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin in neurons of the ventral medulla oblongata projecting to the spinal cord.
Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the medulla oblongata of colchicine-treated rats that had been incubated with guinea pig antibodies to serotonin (5-HT) and either rabbit or sheep antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). Numerous cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in the region of nucleus raphe magnus were immunostained for either 5-HT or GAD. A substantial number of neurons showed positive immunoreactivity for both substances, and were most frequently observed in the lateral aspect of nucleus raphe magnus. In addition, a number of the 5-HT/GAD-containing neurons were retrogradely labelled with Fast blue dye that had been injected into the thoracic spinal cord. This work provides evidence for colocalization of the classical neurotransmitters 5-HT and GABA in single cells of the ventral medulla oblongata, some of which project to the spinal cord.
D000818:Animals; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase