Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat
The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) are functionally associated brainstem structures implicated in behavioral state control and sensorimotor integration. The PPN is also involved in gait and posture, while the LDT plays a role in reward. Both nuclei...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnana.2018.00034/full |
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| author | Esther Luquin Ibone Huerta María S. Aymerich María S. Aymerich Elisa Mengual Elisa Mengual |
| author_facet | Esther Luquin Ibone Huerta María S. Aymerich María S. Aymerich Elisa Mengual Elisa Mengual |
| author_sort | Esther Luquin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) are functionally associated brainstem structures implicated in behavioral state control and sensorimotor integration. The PPN is also involved in gait and posture, while the LDT plays a role in reward. Both nuclei comprise characteristic cholinergic neurons intermingled with glutamatergic and GABAergic cells whose absolute numbers in the rat have been only partly established. Here we sought to determine the complete phenotypical profile of each nucleus to investigate potential differences between them. Counts were obtained using stereological methods after the simultaneous visualization of cholinergic and either glutamatergic or GABAergic cells. The two isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 and GAD67, were separately analyzed. Dual in situ hybridization revealed coexpression of GAD65 and GAD67 mRNAs in ∼90% of GAD-positive cells in both nuclei; thus, the estimated mean numbers of (1) cholinergic, (2) glutamatergic, and (3) GABAergic cells in PPN and LDT, respectively, were (1) 3,360 and 3,650; (2) 5,910 and 5,190; and (3) 4,439 and 7,599. These data reveal significant differences between PPN and LDT in their relative phenotypical composition, which may underlie some of the functional differences observed between them. The estimation of glutamatergic cells was significantly higher in the caudal PPN, supporting the reported functional rostrocaudal segregation in this nucleus. Finally, a small subset of cholinergic neurons (8% in PPN and 5% in LDT) also expressed the glutamatergic marker Vglut2, providing anatomical evidence for a potential corelease of transmitters at specific target areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:53:40Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5129 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a87edcb167e4908b6be074b1266acb42022-12-22T03:15:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroanatomy1662-51292018-05-011210.3389/fnana.2018.00034344364Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the RatEsther Luquin0Ibone Huerta1María S. Aymerich2María S. Aymerich3Elisa Mengual4Elisa Mengual5Division of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDivision of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDivision of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Science, University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainDivision of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainAnatomy Department, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, SpainThe pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) are functionally associated brainstem structures implicated in behavioral state control and sensorimotor integration. The PPN is also involved in gait and posture, while the LDT plays a role in reward. Both nuclei comprise characteristic cholinergic neurons intermingled with glutamatergic and GABAergic cells whose absolute numbers in the rat have been only partly established. Here we sought to determine the complete phenotypical profile of each nucleus to investigate potential differences between them. Counts were obtained using stereological methods after the simultaneous visualization of cholinergic and either glutamatergic or GABAergic cells. The two isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 and GAD67, were separately analyzed. Dual in situ hybridization revealed coexpression of GAD65 and GAD67 mRNAs in ∼90% of GAD-positive cells in both nuclei; thus, the estimated mean numbers of (1) cholinergic, (2) glutamatergic, and (3) GABAergic cells in PPN and LDT, respectively, were (1) 3,360 and 3,650; (2) 5,910 and 5,190; and (3) 4,439 and 7,599. These data reveal significant differences between PPN and LDT in their relative phenotypical composition, which may underlie some of the functional differences observed between them. The estimation of glutamatergic cells was significantly higher in the caudal PPN, supporting the reported functional rostrocaudal segregation in this nucleus. Finally, a small subset of cholinergic neurons (8% in PPN and 5% in LDT) also expressed the glutamatergic marker Vglut2, providing anatomical evidence for a potential corelease of transmitters at specific target areas.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnana.2018.00034/fullbasal gangliaGAD65GAD67Vglut2gaitreward |
| spellingShingle | Esther Luquin Ibone Huerta María S. Aymerich María S. Aymerich Elisa Mengual Elisa Mengual Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat Frontiers in Neuroanatomy basal ganglia GAD65 GAD67 Vglut2 gait reward |
| title | Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat |
| title_full | Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat |
| title_fullStr | Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat |
| title_short | Stereological Estimates of Glutamatergic, GABAergic, and Cholinergic Neurons in the Pedunculopontine and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nuclei in the Rat |
| title_sort | stereological estimates of glutamatergic gabaergic and cholinergic neurons in the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei in the rat |
| topic | basal ganglia GAD65 GAD67 Vglut2 gait reward |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnana.2018.00034/full |
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