Direct projections from substance P-containing neurons to nitric oxide synthase-containing interneurons in the rat striatum.
We reported previously that substance P (SP)-containing projection neurons (SP-PN) in the striatum emitted many axon collaterals within the striatum (J. Comp. Neurol. 388 (1997) 250), and that substantially all striatal interneurons showing immunoreactivity for nitric oxide synthase (NOS: synthetic enzyme for the freely-diffusible messenger nitric oxide) displayed immunoreactivity for SP receptor (NK1: NK-1-type tachykinin receptor; Neurosci. Lett. 310 (2001) 109). By combining immunohistochemistry for NOS with immunogold labeling for SP, the present study revealed that SP-immunoreactive axon terminals were in synaptic contact with NOS-immunoreactive aspiny neurons in the rat striatum, indicating that SP-PN in the striatum sent their axon collaterals to nitric oxide synthase-expressing interneurons (NOS-IN) in the striatum. On the basis of these present and previous data, possible synaptic and non-synaptic interactions between SP-PN and NOS-IN in the striatum were discussed.
Li
Jin Lian
JL
Department of Anatomy and K.K. Leung Brain Research Center, The Fourth Military Medical University, 710032, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Dong
Yu Lin
YL
Kaneko
Takeshi
T
Mizuno
Noboru
N
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007395:Interneurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013373:Substance P; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase