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On the ultrastructural localization of noradrenaline in the central nervous system of the rat

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Summary

The locus coeruleus area of rat, a brain area rich in both noradrenaline nerve cell bodies and nerve terminals, has been investigated with electron microscope using potassium permanganate as a fixative.

In this area a special type of bouton was found containing many granular vesicles with a diameter of about 500 Å, so called small granular vesicles. In the same bouton also some large granular vesicles and agranular vesicles were found. In the majority of boutons, however, no small granular vesicles were found but predominantly agranular vesicles. Also in the cell bodies of the locus coeruleus small granular vesicles were found. In previous studies using glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide as fixatives no such small granular vesicles were seen. The present results are interpreted to give evidence for the view, that in accordance with previous findings in our laboratory the small granular vesicles are storage sites for noradrenaline in the central nervous system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    T. Hökfelt

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  1. T. Hökfelt
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This study has been supported by a grant from „Stifteisen G. och T. Svenssons Minne” and a research grant from the Swedish State Medical Research Council (12 x-715-02).

The skilful technical assistance of Mrs. Waldtraut Hiort is gratefully acknowledged.

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Hökfelt, T. On the ultrastructural localization of noradrenaline in the central nervous system of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 79, 110–117 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335247

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335247

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