A histochemical examination of the metabolic profiles of rat ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra arterioles.
To determine the metabolic profiles of arterioles of the rat ventral tegmental area and zona compacta and zona reticulata of the substantia nigra (SN), the distribution of selected enzymes, or by-products, of key metabolic pathways were examined histologically. Arterioles of all three regions expressed the enzymes required for aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. However, the relative abundance of the enzymes and byproducts suggests a lower metabolic capacity for the SN than the ventral tegmentum, while lipid catabolism in both regions appears non-operative. Moreover, the larger ventral tegmental arterioles possess a greater potential for nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Together, these results suggest the larger ventral tegmental arterioles possess a greater capacity for proliferation and repair.
D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000098:blood supply*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000098:blood supply*
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006003:Glycogen; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D008049:Lipase