Effects of locus ceruleus lesions on the pericapillary nerve terminals in the feline brain

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 141; no. 1; p. 13
• Main Authors: Naganuma, Y, Fukuuchi, Y, Koto, A, Suzuki, N, Morita-Tsuzuki, Y, Isozumi, K, Gotoh, J, Senda, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 06-07-1992
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - pathology; Brain - physiology; Brain - ultrastructure; Capillaries - innervation; Capillaries - ultrastructure; Cats; Locus Coeruleus - physiology; Locus Coeruleus - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron; Nerve Endings - physiology; Nerve Endings - ultrastructure; Stereotaxic Techniques
• ISSN: 0304-3940
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3940(92)90323-Y

The effects of bilateral locus ceruleus (LC) lesions on the pericapillary nerve terminals were investigated in the feline brain parenchyma using electron microscopy. LC lesions were induced stereotaxically and the animals were sacrificed after intravenous administration of 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA). The diameter and number of dense-cored vesicles (DCVs) and clear vesicles (CVs) in the pericapillary nerve terminals were measured. The number of DCVs in the nerve terminal was significantly decreased by bilateral LC lesions. The diameters of the DCVs and CVs decreased significantly as compared with those in the non-operated control group. These data suggest that the LC is closely related to the pericapillary nerve terminals in the brain parenchyma and that not only nerve terminals with DCVs but also those with CVs are affected by LC lesions.