GABAergic pretectal terminals contact GABAergic interneurons in the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

Neurosci Lett. 2002 Apr 26;323(2):141-5. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02533-2.

Abstract

Anterograde tracing techniques combined with postembedding immunocytochemical staining were used to determine the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) content of pretectogeniculate (PT-LGN) terminals and their postsynaptic targets. The results provide evidence that PT-LGN terminals are GABAergic and that they contact GABAergic interneurons. These results corroborate previous anatomical studies and support the idea that the PT-LGN projection functions to disinhibit thalamocortical cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Female
  • Geniculate Bodies / physiology
  • Geniculate Bodies / ultrastructure*
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Interneurons / ultrastructure*
  • Neurons, Afferent / chemistry
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology
  • Presynaptic Terminals / physiology
  • Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure*
  • Superior Colliculi / physiology
  • Superior Colliculi / ultrastructure*
  • Visual Pathways / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / ultrastructure
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology*

Substances

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid