Morphological evidence for GABA/glycine-cocontaining terminals in synaptic contact with neurokinin-1 receptor-expressing neurons in the sacral dorsal commissural nucleus of the rat

Neurosci Lett. 2005 Nov 18;388(3):144-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.06.068.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that neurons in the sacral dorsal commissural nucleus (SDCN) express neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and can be modulated by the co-release of GABA and glycine (Gly) from single presynaptic terminal. These results raise the possibility that GABA/Gly-cocontaining terminals might make synaptic contacts with NK1R-expressing neurons in the SDCN. In order to provide morphological evidence for this hypothesis, the triple-immunohistochemical studies were performed in the SDCN. Triple-immunofluorescence histochemical study showed that some axon terminals in close association with NK1R-immunopositive (NK1R-ip) neurons in the SDCN were immunopositive for both glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2). In electron microscopic dual- and triple-immunohistochemistry for GAD/GlyT2, GAD/NK1R, GlyT2/NK1R, or GAD/GlyT2/NK1R also revealed dually labeled (GAD/GlyT2-ip) synaptic terminals upon SDCN neurons, as well as GAD- and/or GlyT2-ip axon terminals in synaptic contact with NK1R-ip SDCN neurons. These results suggested that some synaptic terminals upon NK1R-expressing SDCN neurons co-released both GABA and Gly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / metabolism
  • Glycine / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Neurons, Afferent / metabolism
  • Neurons, Afferent / ultrastructure
  • Nociceptors / metabolism
  • Nociceptors / ultrastructure
  • Pain / metabolism
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism*
  • Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / metabolism*
  • Sacrum
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / ultrastructure
  • Substance P / metabolism
  • Synaptic Membranes / metabolism
  • Synaptic Membranes / ultrastructure
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Visceral Afferents / metabolism*
  • Visceral Afferents / ultrastructure
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1
  • Substance P
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • Glycine