ASSOCIATION OF VESTICULAR GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTERS-AND 5-HT-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVE VARICOSITIES WITH MESENCEPHALIC TRIGEMINAL NUCLEUS NEURONS IN THE RAT / 神经解剖学杂志

ABSTRACT

The possible relationship of vesicular glutamate transporters ( VGluT1 and VGluT2 ) - and 5-HT-like immunoreactive (LI) terminals with mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Vme) neurons in the rat was examined by using triple-immunofluorescence histochemistry and double-labeled electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Under confocal laser-scanning microscope, many neuronal cell bodies of Vme showed phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) -LI and the vast majority of them were large pseudounipolar neurons. A considerable number of VGluT1 -LI and VGluT2-LI terminals were widely distributed in Vme, the density of VGluT2-LI terminals was higher than that of VGluT1-LI. 5-HT-LI axonal varicosities had dense distribution in Vme, and some 5-HT-LI terminals also showed immunoreactivity for VGluT2. Some VGluT1-LI, VGluT2-LI, 5-HT-LI and VGluT2/5-HT-LI terminals were frequently observed in close apposition to the cell bodies of Vme neurons showing PAG-LI. Under electron microscope, VGluT1/VGluT2-LI and 5-HT-LI were visualized with silver grains and peroxidase products, respectively. Some terminals in Vme showed both VGluT2- and 5-HT-LI, these dual labeled varicosities usually made asymmetric contact with Vme neurons. Synaptic terminals that showed VGluT1-LI was also observed, but no coexpression of VGluT1 and 5-HT was found in Vme. The present results suggest that in the transmission of the proprioceptive sensory information from the orofacial regions to the higher center, glutamate and 5-HT may play important roles on the regulation of Vme neurons through complicated integration.