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Glutamate containing neurons in the cat superior colliculus revealed by immunocytochemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Chang-Jin Jeon ,
Michael R. Gurski  and
R. Ranney Mize
Chang-Jin Jeon
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, and Department of Anatomy and the Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans
Michael R. Gurski
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, and Department of Anatomy and the Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans
R. Ranney Mize
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, and Department of Anatomy and the Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans
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Abstract

Glutamate is the probable neurotransmitter of both retinal and cortical afferents to the cat superior colliculus (SC). The present study shows that glutamate is also contained in many postsynaptic neurons in SC. The distribution, morphology, and ultrastructure of neurons in SC were examined using glutamate antibody immunocytochemistry. Labeled cells were widely distributed throughout, but a specific laminar pattern was evident. Relatively few cells were found in the zonal and upper superficial gray layers (SGL). A dense band of intensely labeled neurons was found within the deep superficial gray and upper optic layers. Many cells were also labeled in the deeper layers. Labeled cells had varied sizes and morphologies. Soma diameters ranged from 9–67 μm, with a mean of 22 μm. Cells with stellate, vertical fusiform, and multipolar morphologies were labeled. Cells in the deep subdivision all had morphologies and sizes typical of projection neurons. To determine if labeled cells in the dense band were also projection neurons, WGA-HRP was injected into the lateral posterior nucleus and these sections were double-labeled with the glutamate antibody. Over one-half of cells in the dense band that were labeled by HRP were also obviously labeled by antibody. At the electron-microscope level, both medium- and large-sized neurons were also labeled by glutamate antibodies. These cells had different but characteristic morphologies.

Keywords

Projection neuronsRetrograde tracingGamma-L-glutamyl-L-glutamic acidUltrastructureAmino acid neurotransmitters
Type
Short Communication
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , March 1997 , pp. 387 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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