A correlated light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study of cholinergic terminals and neurons in the rat amygdaloid body with special emphasis on the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus
- 1 February 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Comparative Neurology
- Vol. 244 (1), 121-136
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902440110
Abstract
The cholinergic innervation of the rat basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BL) was determined by the immunocytochemical localization of the acetylcholine biosynthetic enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). ChAT‐immunoreactive (ChAT‐IR) elements were observed throughout the BL in the form of fine puncta and varicose fibers. Electron microscopy revealed that the immunoreactive puncta represented small terminals (0.3–1.2 μm), most of which formed synaptic contacts with unlabeled dendritic shafts or spines. Less frequently, ChAT‐IR terminals established synaptic contacts with large neuronal cell bodies, which had all the characteristics of projection neurons as defined on the basis of axonal projections to the ventral striatum. ChAT‐IR terminals were sometimes seen to form synaptic contacts with small neuronal cell bodies, including those of ChAT‐IR neurons. The ChAT‐IR boutons contained pleomorphic clear vesicles of varying size, and the large majority of the synapses were of the symmetric type. Small ChAT‐IR neurons were observed in all parts of the BL. Although the ChAT‐IR cell bodies varied widely in shape from typical fusiform to round, most had a more or less oval shape with a major diameter of 10–14 μm. Most of the ChAT‐IR neurons seemed to display a radial bipolar dendritic pattern, but multipolar cells were also observed. The ChAT‐IR neurons contained an indented nucleus, which was often eccentrically located and surrounded by a thin or moderately thin rim of cytoplasm. The results obtained are discussed in relation to a quasi‐cortical organization of the BL.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain to the basolateral amygdaloid complex: A combined retrograde fluorescent and immunohistochemical studyJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1985
- Two types of cholinergic innervation in cortex, one co-localized with vasoactive intestinal polypeptideNature, 1984
- Cholinergic neurons in the rat cerebral cortex demonstrated by immunohistochemical localization of choline acetyltransferaseNeuroscience Letters, 1983
- Interaction of monoclonal antibodies with mammalian choline acetyltransferase.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1982
- Observations on the organization of the visual cortex in the reeler mouseJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1981
- Quantitative3H-thymidine radiographic analyses of neurogenesis on the rat amygdalaJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1980
- Choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase containing projections from the basal forebrain to the amygdaloid complex of the ratBrain Research, 1979
- The forms of non-pyramidal neurons in the visual cortex of the ratJournal of Comparative Neurology, 1978
- Regional distribution of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase within the amygdaloid complex and stria terminalis systemBrain Research, 1977
- Choline acetyltransferase activity and mass fragmentographic measurement of acetylcholine in specific nuclei and tracts of rat brainNeuropharmacology, 1975