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Excitatory transmitter amino acid-containing neurons and their development in the rat visual cortex

Dori, Ioanna; (1990) Excitatory transmitter amino acid-containing neurons and their development in the rat visual cortex. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

The distribution and morphology of neurons containing glutamate (Glu) or aspartate (Asp) were examined in the developing and adult rat visual cortex using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique at the light and electron microscopic levels. In the adult, Glu-labelled neurons were pyramidal cells distributed in layers El-VI with a preponderance in layers II-IIL Asp-positive neurons were distributed throughout layers I-VI, with the highest density in layers Il-in and the lowest in layer IV and the upper part of layer V. The majority of labelled neurons were pyramidal, whilst a small number of nonpyramidal cells was also observed. Glu- and Asp-immunoreactive neurons were first observed in the immature visual cortex on posmatal day 3, but did not demonstrate their adult pattern of distribution until the fourth posmatal week. Both populations attained their mature ultrastructural features by the end of the third posmatal week. The combination of immunohistochenistry with wheat germ agglutinin- horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) histochemistry was used to examine the Glu- and Asp-containing cortical neurons which give rise to corticofugal and callosal projections. Injections of WGA-HRP into the pons resulted in retrograde labelling of large cells in layer V. Of these cells, 42% were also Glu-immunoreactive while 51% were Asp- positive. Injections in the superior colliculus labelled large and medium-sized neurons in layer V, of these cells, 46% were also stained for Glu and 66% for Asp. Injections in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus labelled cells throughout layer VI. Of these, 60% were also Glu-immunoreactive and 61% Asp-positive. Finally, after injections in the visual cortex, labelled cells were found throughout layers II-VI in the contralateral visual cortex. Of these cells, 38% were also labelled for Glu while 49% were also Asp- immunoreactive.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification: Ph.D
Title: Excitatory transmitter amino acid-containing neurons and their development in the rat visual cortex
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
Additional information: Thesis digitised by ProQuest.
Keywords: Biological sciences, Health and environmental sciences; Glutamate
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122553
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