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Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fitzpatrick, D; Penny, GR; Schmechel, DE
Published in: J Neurosci
July 1984

We have examined the distribution of neurons and terminals that are immunoreactive for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the synthesizing enzyme for the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid within the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. We estimate that GAD-positive neurons constitute approximately one-fourth of the neurons in all layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus and in the medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN). In addition, almost all of the neurons within the perigeniculate nucleus are GAD-positive. The mean size of GAD-positive cell bodies is significantly smaller than the mean size of unlabeled neurons in all subdivisions of the lateral geniculate nucleus. GAD-positive neurons have thick primary dendrites which are associated with thin lightly immunoreactive processes that give rise to clusters of GAD-positive terminals. Clusters of GAD-positive terminals are prominent in lamina A, A1, magnocellular C, and MIN but are rare in the parvocellular C laminae. Within the A laminae, GAD immunoreactivity is found within vesicle-containing profiles of the synaptic glomerulus lying postsynaptic to optic axon terminals and presynaptic to unlabeled dendritic profiles. GAD-positive neurons in the A laminae are distinguished from other small to medium-sized neurons by their failure to label following injections of HRP into visual cortex and by their lack of cytoplasmic laminated body. These results support the idea that GAD-positive neurons constitute a distinct population of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat; a population which has a number of features in common with previous descriptions of presumed local circuit neurons based on Golgi staining.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

July 1984

Volume

4

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1809 / 1829

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Cortex
  • Synapses
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • Geniculate Bodies
  • Dendrites
  • Cats
  • Biological Transport, Active
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Fitzpatrick, D., Penny, G. R., & Schmechel, D. E. (1984). Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurosci, 4(7), 1809–1829. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-07-01809.1984
Fitzpatrick, D., G. R. Penny, and D. E. Schmechel. “Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.J Neurosci 4, no. 7 (July 1984): 1809–29. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-07-01809.1984.
Fitzpatrick D, Penny GR, Schmechel DE. Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurosci. 1984 Jul;4(7):1809–29.
Fitzpatrick, D., et al. “Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.J Neurosci, vol. 4, no. 7, July 1984, pp. 1809–29. Pubmed, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.04-07-01809.1984.
Fitzpatrick D, Penny GR, Schmechel DE. Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurosci. 1984 Jul;4(7):1809–1829.

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0270-6474

Publication Date

July 1984

Volume

4

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1809 / 1829

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Visual Cortex
  • Synapses
  • Neurons
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • Geniculate Bodies
  • Dendrites
  • Cats
  • Biological Transport, Active