Fine structure of noradrenaline nerve terminals in the dorsomedial portion of the nucleus tractus solitarii as demonstrated by a modified potassium permanganate method

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Abstract
Fine structure of the noradrenaline (NA) nerve terminals in the dorsomedial portion of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) was investigated by glyoxylic acid—potassium permanganate fixation method. The NA nerve terminals in this area contained a large number of small cored vesicles (SCV) (about 400-600 Å in diameter) together with a few large cored vesicles (LCV) (about 1000 Å in diameter). The most frequent feature of NA nerve terminals observed in this area was axo-dendritic contact. An axo-axonic contact between NA and non-NA terminals was also occasionally identified, while no axo-somatic contact was found in this area as far as examined. At the contact zone between NA terminals and other neuronal elements, the following profiles suggestive of synapse-like contact were identified: (1) somewhat dense material between contact membranes (intersynaptic filaments); (2) a slight accumulation of dense material adjacent to postcontact membranes; (3) disarrangement of contact membranes and enlargement of the space between these membranes; (4) aggregation of SCV and LCV to contact membranes. Finally it should be emphasized that NA nerve terminals often made a neuronal cluster or rosette with other neuronal elements, suggestive of a complicated role of NA on NTS function.

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