Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Autoradiographic localization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain of the zebra finch (Poephila guttata)

Journal Article · · J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States)
We have localized nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the zebra finch brain by using three 125I-labelled ligands: alpha bungarotoxin and two monoclonal antibodies to neuronal nicotinic receptors. Unfixed brains from intact adult male and female zebra finches were prepared for in vitro autoradiography. Low-resolution film autoradiograms and high-resolution emulsion autoradiograms were prepared for each of the three ligands. The major brain structures that bind all three of the ligands are hippocampus; hyperstriatum dorsalis; hyperstriatum ventralis; nucleus lentiformis mesencephali; nucleus pretectalis, some layers of the optic tectum; nucleus mesencephalicus lateralis; pars dorsalis; locus ceruleus; and all cranial motor nuclei except nucleus nervi hypoglossi. The major structures labelled only by (125I)-alpha bungarotoxin binding included hyperstriatum accessorium and the nuclei: preopticus medialis, medialis hypothalami posterioris, semilunaris, olivarius inferior, and the periventricular organ. Of the song control nuclei, nucleus magnocellularis of the anterior neostriatum; hyperstriatum ventralis, pars caudalis; nucleus intercollicularis; and nucleus hypoglossus were labelled. The binding patterns of the two antibodies were similar to one another but not identical. Both labelled nucleus spiriformis lateralis and nucleus geniculatus lateralis, pars ventralis especially heavily and also labelled the nucleus habenula medialis; nucleus subpretectalis; nucleus isthmi, pars magnocellularis; nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis; nucleus reticularis lateralis; nucleus tractus solitarii; nucleus vestibularis dorsolateralis; nucleus vestibularis lateralis; nucleus descendens nervi trigemini; and the deep cerebellar nuclei.
Research Organization:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
OSTI ID:
6499909
Journal Information:
J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 274:2; ISSN JCNEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Vasoactive intestinal peptide binding sites and fibers in the brain of the pigeon Columba livia: An autoradiographic and immunohistochemical study
Journal Article · Thu Mar 14 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Comparative Neurology; (United States) · OSTI ID:5510146

Autoradiographic localization of putative nicotinic receptors in the rat brain using sup 125 I-neuronal bungarotoxin
Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Neuroscience; (USA) · OSTI ID:6250167

Neuropeptide Y receptor binding sites in rat brain: differential autoradiographic localizations with sup 125 I-peptide YY and sup 125 I-neuropeptide Y imply receptor heterogeneity
Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Neuroscience; (USA) · OSTI ID:5413044