Abstract
In the reticular nucleus of the rat thalamus, about 30% of the synapses are brought about by the perikarya of parvalbumin-immunopositive neurons, which establish somato-dendritic synapses with large dendrites of nerve cells of specific thalamic nuclei. Although the parvalbumin-immunopositive presynaptic structures bear resemblance to goblet-like or calyciform axonal endings, electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that these structures are parts of the perikaryal cytoplasm studded with synaptic vesicles. In about 15% of the somato-dendritic synapses, axons are seen to be in synaptic contact with the parvalbumin-immunoreactive perikaryon. Double immunohistochemical staining revealed that the parvalbumin immunoreactive presynaptic perikarya and dendrites contained GABA. It is assumed that the peculiar somato-dendritic synaptic complexes subserve the goal of filtration of impulses arriving at the reticular nucleus from various thalamic nuclei, thus processing them for further sampling.
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Dedicated to Professor József Hámori on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
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Csillik, B., Pálfi, Á., Gulya, K. et al. Somato-Dendritic Synapses in the Nucleus Reticularis Thalami of the Rat. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 53, 33–41 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.53.2002.1-2.5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.53.2002.1-2.5