Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The substantia gelatinosa Rolandi of the rat. Fine structure, cytochemistry (acid phosphatase) and changes after dorsal root section

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

The rat substantia gelatinosa Rolandi (lamina II) was found to contain synaptic glomeruli at the centre of which was a dark terminal (C-terminal) full of round synaptic vesicles. The C-terminal was presynaptic to several dendritic profiles and to terminals containing sparse pleomorphic synaptic vesicles, and was occasionally postsynaptic at symmetrical contacts to other terminals containing numerous pleomorphic vesicles of which about one-third were elongated. Acid phosphatase activity was observed on, and between, the membranes of the synaptic vesicles of the central bouton, as well as in the hyaloplasm of the peripheral elements of the glomeruli. Dorsal root section caused electrondense degeneration of the central boutons. Acid phosphatase activity disappeared from synaptic vesicle membranes in C-boutons, and gradually filled their dense cytoplasmic matrix. The enzyme disappeared completely from the peripheral profiles.

The synaptic glomeruli of the rat gelatinosa are thus a synaptic relay station for primary afferents, whose terminals possess an extralysosomal acid phosphatase possibly concerned with the metabolism of a local synaptic transmitter. Enzyme accumulation in degenerating knobs seems to be an autolytic process distinct from the normal function of this acid phosphatase.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barka, T. andAnderson, P. J. (1963)Histochemistry-Theory, practice and bibliography. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccarelli, B., Hurlbut, W. P. andMauro, A. (1973) Turnover of transmitter and synaptic vesicles at the frog neuromuscular junction.Journal of Cell Biology 57, 499–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coimbra, A., Magalhães, M. M. andSodré-Borges, B. P. (1970) Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase in synaptic terminals of the rat substantia gelatinosa Rolandi.Brain Research 22, 142–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colonnier, M. (1968) Synaptic patterns on different cell types in the different laminae of the cat visual cortex. An electron microscope study.Brain Research 9, 268–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennison, M. E. (1971) Electron stereoscopy as a means of classifying synaptic vesicles.Journal of Cell Science 8, 525–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etherton, J. E. andBotham, C. M. (1970) Factors affecting lead capture methods for the fine localization of rat lung acid phosphatase.Histochemical Journal 2, 507–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerebtzoff, M. A. andMaeda, T. (1968) Caractères et localisation histochimique d'un isoenzyme fluororésistante de la phosphatase acide dans la moelle épinière du rat.Comptes Rendus de la Société de Biologie (Paris) 162, 2032–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerebtzoff, M. A., Budo, C., Poncelet, G. andSchoenen, J. (1969) Localisation histochimique et propriétés d'un isoenzyme fluororésistant de la phosphatase acide dans la moelle épinière du rat et de la souris.Comptes Rendus de l'Association des Anatomistes 145, 208–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, E. G. (1959) Axosomatic and axodendritic synapses of the cerebral cortex: an electron microscope study.Journal of Anatomy (London) 93, 420–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerschlag, R. andWeinreich, D. (1972) Glutamic acid and primary afferent transmission. InStudies of Neurotransmitters at the Synaptic Level, Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology (edited byCosta, E., Iversen, L. L. andPaoletti, R.) Vol. 6, pp. 165–80. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heimer, L. andWall, P. D. (1968) The dorsal root distribution to the substantia gelatinosa of the rat with a note on the distribution in the cat.Experimental Brain Research 6, 89–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heuser, J. E. andReese, T. S. (1973) Evidence for recycling of synaptic vesicle membrane during transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction.Journal of Cell Biology 57, 315–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holländer, H. andVaaland, J. L. (1968) A reliable staining method for semi-thin sections in experimental neuroanatomy.Brain Research 10, 120–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, E. andNovikoff, A. B. (1965) Lysosomes in the rat sciatic nerve following crush.Journal of Cell Biology 27, 651–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, E., Novikoff, A. B. andVillaverde, H. (1967) Lysosomes and GERL in normal and chromatolytic neurons of the rat ganglion nodosum.Journal of Cell Biology 33, 419–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ide, H. andFishman, W. H. (1969) Dual localization of β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase in lysosomes and in microsomes. II. Membrane-associated enzymes.Histochemie 20, 300–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalina, M. andBubis, J. J. (1968) Histochemical studies on the distribution of acid phosphatases in neurones of sensory ganglia; light and electron microscopy.Histochemie 14, 103–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. S., Gottesfeld, Z. andSchon, F. (1973) Reduction in GAD I activity from the dorsal lateral region of the deafferented rat spinal cord.Brain Research 62, 581–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, F. W. L. (1966) The ultrastructure of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve and the substantia gelatinosa.Experimental Neurology 16, 359–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, F. W. L. (1970a) The fine structure of the subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal nerve.Brain Research 23, 129–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, F. W. L. (1970b) The organization of primary afferents in the subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal; a light and electron microscopic study of degeneration.Brain Research 23, 147–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knyihär, E. (1971) Fluoride resistant acid phosphatase system of nociceptive dorsal root afferents.Experientia 27, 1205–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knyihár, E. andGerebtzoff, M. A. (1970) Localisation ultrastructurale de l'isoenzyme fluororésistante de la phosphatase acide dans la moelle épinière du rat.Comptes Rendus de l'Association des Anatomistes 145 bis, 786–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knyihár, E. andGerebtzoff, M. A. (1973) Extra-lysosomal localization of acid phosphatase in the spinal cord of the rat.Experimental Brain Research 18, 383–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kravitz, E. A. (1967) Acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamic acid: physiological and chemical studies related to their roles as neurotransmitter agents. InThe Neurosciences (edited byQuarton, G. C., Melnechuk, T. andSchmitt, F. O.), pp. 433–44. New York: The Rockefeller University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, A. R. andWebster, K. E. (1972) Presynaptic dendrites and a distinctive class of synaptic vesicle in the rat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.Brain Research 42, 196–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. -W. andFishman, W. H. (1972) Microsomal and lysosomal acid phosphatase isoenzymes of mouse kidney. Characterization and separation.Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 20, 487–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, F. andPalade, G. E. (1964) Lytic activities in renal protein absorption droplets. An electron microscopical cytochemical study.Journal of Cell Biology 23, 519–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, H. J. III. (1965) The organization of the substantia gelatinosa Rolandi in the cat lumbosacral spinal cord.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie 67, 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, H. J. III. (1968a) The fine structure of neurons in the dorsal horn of the cat spinal cord.Journal of Comparative Neurology 132, 275–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, H. J. III. (1968b) Dorsal root projections to dorsal horn of the cat spinal cord.Journal of Comparative Neurology 132, 303–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, H. J. III. (1971) The synaptic organization in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and in the ventrobasal thalamus in the cat. InOral-Facial Sensory and Motor Mechanisms (edited byDubner, R. andKawamura, Y.), pp. 229–50. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Réthelyi, M. andSzentágothai, J. (1969) The large synaptic complexes of the substantia gelatinosa.Experimental Brain Research 7, 258–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rexed, B. (1952) The cytoarchitectonic organization of the spinal cord in the cat.Journal of Comparative Neurology 96, 415–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rexed, B. (1964) Some aspects of the cytoarchitectonics and synaptology of the spinal cord. InOrganization of the Spinal Cord, Progress in Brain Research (edited byEccles, J. C. andSchadé, J. P.) Vol. II, pp. 58–92. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rustioni, A., Sanyal, S. andKuypers, H. G. J. M. (1971) A histochemical study of the distribution of the trigeminal divisions in the substantia gelatinosa of the rat.Brain Research 32, 45–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoenen, J., Budo, C. andPoncelet, G. (1968) Effet de la section du sciatique sur l'activité de l'isoenzyme fluororésistant de la phosphatase acide dans la moelle épinière du rat.Comptes Rendus de la Sociétè de Biologie (Paris) 162, 2035–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, T. J. andTurner, L. M. (1972) Cytoarchitecture of the rat spinal cord.Journal of Physiology (London) 222, 123–4P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szentágothai, J. (1964) Neuronal and synaptic arrangement in the substantia gelatinosa Rolandi.Journal of Comparative Neurology 122, 219–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szentágothai, J. (1968) Synaptic structure and the concept of presynaptic inhibition. InStructure and Function of Inhibitory Neuronal Mechanisms (edited byVon Euler, C., Skoglund, S. andSöderberg, U.), pp. 15–31. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szentágothai, J. andHámori, J. (1969) Growth and differentiation of synaptic structures under circumstances of deprivation of function and of distant connections. InCellular Dynamics of the Neuron (edited byBarondes, S. H.). ISCB Symposium Paris, Vol. 8, pp. 301–20. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn, J. E. andPeters, A. (1967) Electron microscopy of the early postnatal development of fibrous astrocytes.American Journal of Anatomy 121, 131–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, P. D. (1964) Presynaptic control of impulses at the first central synapse in the cutaneous pathway.Progress in Brain Research 12, 92–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong-Riley, M. T. T. (1972) Neuronal and synaptic organization of the normal dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the squirrel monkey,Saimiri sciureus.Journal of Comparative Neurology 144, 25–60.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and the Electron Microscopy Center of the University, Oporto, Portugal

    Antonio Coimbra, B. P. Sodré-Borges & M. M. Magalhães

Authors
  1. Antonio Coimbra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. P. Sodré-Borges
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. M. Magalhães
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coimbra, A., Sodré-Borges, B.P. & Magalhães, M.M. The substantia gelatinosa Rolandi of the rat. Fine structure, cytochemistry (acid phosphatase) and changes after dorsal root section. J Neurocytol 3, 199–217 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01098389

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01098389

Keywords

Search

Navigation