title: Absence of co-localized glutamic acid decarboxylase and neuropeptides in noradrenergic axons of the rat spinal cord.
abstract: Patterns of co-localization of immunoreactivity for dopamine beta-hydroxylase (the synthetic enzyme for noradrenaline) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (the synthetic enzyme for GABA) or each one of six neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y, substance P, met-enkephalin, galanin, dynorphin A and somatostatin) were investigated with dual-colour confocal laser scanning microscopy in axons of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal segments of six adult rats. Four regions of the grey matter were studied (laminae I-II, V, IX and X) and, in thoracic segments, the intermediolateral cell column was also examined. The extent of co-localization was estimated by direct assessment of merged pairs of optical sections and by automated image analysis. Significant co-localization was found for neuropeptide Y in axons of the intermediolateral cell column of thoracic segments and in lamina X of cervical and thoracic segments. None of the other peptides or glutamic acid decarboxylase were found to coexist at significant levels with dopamine beta-hydroxylase and hence it is likely that this group of neuropeptides and GABA are not co-transmitters of bulbospinal noradrenergic axons in the rat.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine