Fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase (FRAP)-positive afferent terminals make synaptic contact with interneuronal soma in the substantia gelatinosa of the mouse spinal dorsal horn.
Fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase (FRAP)-reactive terminals making contact with interneuronal soma are found in the substantia gelatinosa of the mouse spinal dorsal horn. About one half of the interneuronal somata receive FRAP-positive boutons. By electron microscopy, these FRAP-positive terminals appear small, dark, slender, roundish, cap-like, ellipsoid or sinuous and electron-dense, scalloped (fan-like) contours with clear spherical synaptic vesicles of variable size, some large dense-core vesicles and mitochondria. All these features are very similar to those of capsaicin-sensitive terminals. Thus they are considered to be nociceptive primary afferent endings. Therefore, some of the FRAP-positive terminals are suggested to have a modulatory role in the nociceptive circuit in the substantia gelatinosa.
Hiura
A
A
Second Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Tokushima University.
Nasu
F
F
Kuwahara
M
M
Ishizuka
H
H
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D013376:Substantia Gelatinosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D000135:Acid Phosphatase