Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 343, Issue 1, 16 September 1985, Pages 120-128
Brain Research

Immunohistochemistry of synaptic input and functional characterizations of neurons near the spinal central canal

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(85)91165-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Neurons surrounding the central canal in sacral spinal segments were functionally characterized on the basis of somatic and/or visceral afferent input, the intracellularly marked with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Tissue sections containing portions of HRP-stained neurons were subsequently immunohistochemically examined for the presence of contacts made by axonal enlargements containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP), somatostatin (SS), Leu-enkephalin (ENK), or serotonin (5-HT). ENK- and 5-HT-containing enlargements were found to contact all neurons examined. SP and SS terminals contacted fewer neurons, and were not associated with specific functional classes. On the other hand, VIP-containing fibers contacted only those neurons receiving visceral afferent input, thus supporting the contention that VIP is contained in a population of visceral afferent fibers projecting to the gray matter surrounding the central canal at sacral levels.

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    Present address: Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, U.S.A.

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