Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1993-2-25
pubmed:abstractText
Although the hypothalamus is generally regarded to have low levels of glutamate receptors, anatomical and physiological studies have provided consistent evidence implicating glutamate as a potential transmitter for the control of neuroendocrine cell activity. To clarify the extent of the contribution of synapses utilizing glutamate for control of vasopressin/oxytocin neuroendocrine cells, we mapped the density and location of glutamate immunoreactive terminals in the supraoptic nucleus and surrounding hypothalamus. Colloidal gold particle densities in presynaptic terminals were measured from electron micrographs of: (1) the magnocellular neuroendocrine cell perikarya (main body of the supraoptic nucleus), (2) the dendritic field of the magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (ventral dendritic neuropil) and (3) the hypothalamic perinuclear zone dorsal to the supraoptic nucleus. In addition, serial sections were stained, alternatively, for glutamate or GABA to determine glutamate staining in GABA cells. Terminals with high glutamate immunoreactivity were clearly distinguished from the glutamate precursor staining found in GABA terminals and were abundant at all rostral-caudal levels within each region. The number of glutamate terminals identified in each region was similar but represented a very high proportion of all terminals in the ventral dendritic neuropil (38%) vs. the main body of the supraoptic nucleus and the perinuclear zone (20-22%). The regional variation in the relative proportion of glutamate terminals was determined largely by differences in the number of non-glutamate terminals within each region. Glutamate and GABA terminals together accounted for over two-thirds of the innervation of vasopressin/oxytocin neuroendocrine cells. No systematic relationship was observed between excitatory and inhibitory inputs on the same cell. These results suggest that glutamate is the predominant excitatory transmitter used for control of vasopressin/oxytocin cells. The relative contribution of glutamate neurotransmission to a particular region will depend, in part, on the number and type of competing non-glutamate terminals.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0006-8993
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
8
pubmed:volume
600
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
112-22
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1993
pubmed:articleTitle
Quantitative mapping of glutamate presynaptic terminals in the supraoptic nucleus and surrounding hypothalamus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology and Neurobiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.