title: trkC-like immunoreactivity in the primate descending serotoninergic system.
abstract: In the search for substances with a potential role in plastic responses of spinal motoneurons we have studied the distribution of trkC-like immunoreactivity in the spinal cord of adult monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The presence of trkC, which is a signal-transducing receptor for neurotrophin-3, was detected by the use of indirect immunofluorescence with a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxy-terminal domain of the mouse trkC-encoded protein, thus detecting only full-length signal-transducing receptors. trkC-immunoreactive fibres/varicosities could be found at all spinal cord levels and the densest innervation was found in the autonomic intermediolateral and Onuf's nuclei, but somatic motoneuron pools also received a significant contribution of trkC-immunoreactive fibres. Terminals immunoreactive for trkC were also seen in the dorsal horn. Double-labelling experiments revealed a high degree of coexistence between trkC- and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)-like immunoreactivity in all areas except in the dorsal horn. The results of the present study suggest that neurotrophic signalling with an influence on serotoninergic as well as non-serotoninergic inputs to the adult monkey spinal cord is at hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arvidsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frisén
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piehl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cullheim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D012701:Serotonin; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020812:Receptor, trkC