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In Search of the Identity of the Cerebellar Climbing Fiber Transmitter: Immunocytochemical Studies in Rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Zhang Nianhui*
Affiliation:
Anatomical Institute, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
P. Ottersen Ole*
Affiliation:
Anatomical Institute, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
*
Department of Anatomy, University of Oslo, P.O.Box 1105 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo 3, Norway
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Abstract:

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Quantitative immunogold cytochemistry at the electron microscopic level was used to assess the endogenous contents of glutamate, aspartate, homocysteic acid, and glutamine (a precursor of glutamate) in the cerebellar climbing fiber terminals. Of the three excitatory amino acids, only glutamate appeared to be enriched in these terminals. The climbing fiber terminals also displayed immunoreactivity for glutamine. The level of aspartate immunoreactivity was far higher in the nerve cell bodies in the inferior olive than in their terminals in the cerebellar cortex. Homocysteic acid immunolabelling was concentrated in glial cells including the Golgi epithelial cells in the Purkinje cell layer. Our immunocytochemical data indicate that glutamate is a more likely climbing fiber transmitter than aspartate and homocysteic acid.

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1993

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