Degeneration of two of nine types of synapses in the putamen after center median coagulation in the cat

Abstract

The cat putamen contains the identical nine types of synapses and the same proportion of axo-dendritic (or axo-somatic) synapses as described for the fundus striati. However, type III (cortico-striatal) (31∶16%) and type V (axon-collateral) (13∶1%) occur much more frequently and type I (nigro-striatal) much less frequently (14∶34%) in the putamen than in the fundus striati. Of the axo-spinous synapses only type IV, with densely arranged small round vesicles and interrupted, asymmetric contact, shows a dark degeneration after center median lesions, mainly in the parvocellular part. Of the six axo-dendritic (or axo-somatic) synapses, only type VII, with densely packed small round vesicles and asymmetric contact, is degenerated after the same lesion in the center median nucleus. However, after such lesions type VII synapses are much more frequently degenerated in the putamen than those of type IV.