Morphometric analysis of the AMPA-type neurons in the Deiter's vestibular complex of the chick brain.
Chicken (Gallus gallus) brains were used to investigate the typology and the immunolabel pattern for the subunits composing the AMPA-type glutamate receptors (GluR) of hindbrain neurons of the dorsal (dND) and ventral nuclei (vND) of the Deiter's vestibular complex (CD), which is the avian correspondent of the lateral vestibular nucleus (LVN) of mammals. Our results revealed that neurons of both divisions were poor in GluR1. The vND, the GluR2/3+ and GluR4+ label presented no area or neuronal size preference, although most neurons were around 75%. The dND neurons expressing GluR2/3 are primarily around 85%, medium to large-sized 85%, and predominantly 60% located in the medial portion of the rostral pole and in the lateral portion of the caudal pole. The majority of dND neurons containing GluR4 are also around 75%, larger (70% are large and giant), exhibiting a distribution that seems to be complementary to that of GluR2/3+ neurons. This distinct arrangement indicates functional differences into and between the DC nuclei, also signaling that such variation could be attributed to the diverse nature of the subunit composition of the GluRs. Discussion addresses the morphological and functional correlation of the avian DC with the LVN of mammals in addition to the high morphological correspondence, To include these data into the modern comparative approach we propose to adopt a similar nomenclature for the avian divisions dND and vND that could be referred as dLVN and vLVN.
Passetto
Maria F
MF
Laboratory of Neurosciences, City University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 03071-000, Brazil.
Britto
Luiz R G
LR
Toledo
Cláudio A B
CA
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D003689:Vestibular Nucleus, Lateral / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D021122:Protein Subunits; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D018698:Glutamic Acid