Anatomy and Embryology

, Volume 169, Issue 1, pp 1–8 | Cite as

Serotonin nerve fibers in the primary visual cortex of the monkey

Quantitative and immunoelectronmicroscopical analysis
  • Yoshihiro Takeuchi
  • Yutaka Sano
Article
Accepted:

Summary

A quantitative and immunoelectronmicroscopical analysis of serotonin nerve fibers in the primary visual cortex of the monkey (Macaca fuscata) was made using a sensitive immunoperoxidase method for serotonin. The overall numerical density of serotonin-containing varicosities in the primate striate cortex was approximately 770,000/mm3 and the highest concentration of immunore-active varicosities (ca. 1,400,000/mm3) was observed in the upper portion of layer IVc, the next highest concentration being in layer IVb (ca. 1,180,000/mm3). At the ultrastructural level, the electron dense immunoreactive products were observed in the small granules (10–65 nm in diameter). The varicosities were usually small (0.5–1.0 μm in diameter) and made contact with both stellate and pyramidal cells. Serotonin fibers were often in close apposition to the poorly myelinated axons in layers IVb, V, and VI, and they rarely formed distinct synaptic structures with unlabelled neuronal elements.

Key words

Serotonin Primary visual cortex Monkey Ultrastructure Immunohistochemistry 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yoshihiro Takeuchi
    • 1
  • Yutaka Sano
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of AnatomyKyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan

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