D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate retrograde labelling of callosal and association neurons of somatosensory areas I and II of cats

Journal Article · Tue Sep 08 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902630202· OSTI ID:5784324

Barbaresi, P; Fabri, M; Conti, F; Manzoni, T

Experiments were carried out on cats to ascertain whether corticocortical neurons of somatosensory areas I (SI) and II (SII) could be labelled by retrograde axonal transport of D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate (D-(/sup 3/H)Asp). This tritiated enantiomer of the amino acid aspartate is (1) taken up selectively by axon terminals of neurons releasing aspartate and/or glutamate as excitatory neurotransmitter, (2) retrogradely transported and accumulated in perikarya, (3) not metabolized, and (4) visualized by autoradiography. A solution of D-(/sup 3/H)Asp was injected in eight cats in the trunk and forelimb zones of SI (two cats) or in the forelimb zone of SII (six cats). In order to compare the labelling patterns obtained with D-(/sup 3/H)Asp with those resulting after injection of a nonselective neuronal tracer, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was delivered mixed with the radioactive tracer in seven of the eight cats. Furthermore, six additional animals received HRP injections in SI (three cats; trunk and forelimb zones) or SII (three cats; forelimb zone). D-(/sup 3/H)Asp retrograde labelling of perikarya was absent from the ipsilateral thalamus of all cats injected with the radioactive tracer but a dense terminal plexus of anterogradely labelled corticothalamic fibers from SI and SII was observed, overlapping the distribution area of thalamocortical neurons retrogradely labelled with HRP from the same areas. D-(/sup 3/H)Asp-labelled neurones were present in ipsilateral SII (SII-SI association neurones) in cats injected in SI. In these animals a bundle of radioactive fibres was observed in the rostral portion of the corpus callosum entering the contralateral hemisphere. There, neurones retrogradely labelled with silver grains were present in SI (SI-SI callosal neurons).

• Research Organization: Univ. of Ancona, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5784324
• Journal Information: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 263:2; ISSN JCNEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ASPARTIC ACID
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CATS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DRUGS
ENZYMES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LABELLING
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PEROXIDASES
SOMATIC CELLS
THALAMUS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES