Endogenous L-dopa, its immunoreactivity in neurons of midbrain and its projection fields in the cat

Neurosci Lett. 1988 Dec 19;95(1-3):47-52. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(88)90630-1.

Abstract

L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) immunoreactivity was demonstrated in neurons of the cat ventral midbrain and its projection areas, using an immunohistochemical method in conjunction with a newly developed highly specific anti-L-DOPA serum. L-DOPA-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were found in the substantia nigra, retrorubral area and ventral tegmental area of Tsai. L-DOPA-labeled fibers and terminals were hardly detectable in the nigrostriatal pathway and in the caudate nucleus which showed very intense dopamine-immunoreactivity. In contrast, many short labeled processes were detectable in the central amygdala and, although very few in number, in the entorhinal cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cats
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Levodopa / metabolism*
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / metabolism*
  • Red Nucleus / cytology
  • Red Nucleus / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / cytology
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Tegmentum Mesencephali / cytology
  • Tegmentum Mesencephali / metabolism

Substances

  • Levodopa