Localization of vesicular glutamate transporters in the peripheral vestibular system of rat.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluTs: VGluT1-VGluT3) in the peripheral vestibular system.


METHODS
The vestibular structures, including Scarpa's ganglion (vestibular ganglion, VG), maculae of utricle and saccule, and ampullary cristae, from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were processed immunohistochemically for VGluTs, by avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method, with 3-3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) as chromogen.


RESULTS
(1) VGluT1 was localized to partial neurons of VG and to the putative primary afferent fibers innervating vestibular end-organs. (2) Intense VGluT3 immunoreactivity was detected in large number of sensory epithelia cells, and weak labeling of VGluT3-positive afferent fibers was in the maculae and ampullary cristae. (3) No or very weak VGluT2 immunoreactivity was observed in the VG and acoustic maculae.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide the morphological support that glutamate exists in the peripheral vestibular system, and it may play an important role in the centripetal vestibular transmission.
Wang
Yuan
Y
Department of Anatomy and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, China
Pang
You-Wang
YW
Dong
Yu-Lin
YL
Zhang
Fu-Xing
FX
Li
Jin-Lian
JL
Li
Yun-Qing
YQ
D008267:Acoustic Maculae / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050496:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000378:metabolism*; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D050496:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Proteins