title: Vesicular monoamine transporter-2: immunogold localization in striatal axons and terminals.
abstract: The vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) mediates the reserpine-sensitive neuronal uptake of monoamines into vesicles and other intracellular organelles. Accordingly, this transporter is expressed at high levels in regions that contain a dense monoamine innervation, such as the rat dorsolateral striatum. We used ultrastructural immunocytochemistry in this region to show that immunogold labeling for VMAT2 is present in varicose axonal processes, many of which also contain the catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine-hydroxylase. Within these mainly dopaminergic processes, VMAT2 was associated with small synaptic vesicles (SSVs) and more rarely with large dense-core vesicles or tubulovesicles. These findings suggest that SSVs are the major organelles involved in the storage and release of dopamine in the dorsolateral striatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA. MelissaNir@aol.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nirenberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Pickel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C493454:Slc18a2 protein, rat; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins