Biomaterial Database

Cholinergic and GABAergic neurons in the rat medial septum express muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. 1994

E A Van der Zee, and P G Luiten

Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.

This study describes the cellular distribution of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the medial septum (MS), employing the monoclonal antibody M35 raised against purified mAChR-protein. mAChR-positive neurons are found throughout the MS, but are predominantly located in the midline area and in the lateral compartments. The labeled cell bodies are variable in shape and size (largest diameter ranging from 10-30 microns), while both soma and the associated dendritic processes are densely stained for mAChRs. Astrocytes immunoreactive for mAChRs were frequently found associated with the large blood vessels in the midline area. To study the neurotransmitter nature of the mAChR-positive cells, immunofluorescence double-labeling experiments were performed for mAChRs and GABAergic and cholinergic markers. GABAergic cells were identified immunocytochemically using antisera against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), parvalbumin (PARV) or calbindin protein (CaBP). The cholinergic transmitter nature of the mAChR-positive cells was studied using adjacent 8 microns thick serial sections stained immunocytochemically for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), or histochemically for acetylcholinesterase (AChE). These experiments showed that approximately half (52.3%) of all mAChR-positive cells contain GAD, whereas the other half is cholinergic. Conversely, nearly all GABAergic (98.6%) and cholinergic (96.9%) cells are endowed with mAChRs. GAD-positive terminals were found surrounding mAChR-positive perikarya which were either GAD-positive or GAD-negative, indicating GABAergic innervation on both GABAergic and cholinergic MS neurons. In general, the staining intensity for mAChRs appeared to be considerably higher in GABAergic than in cholinergic neurons, suggesting a stronger cholinergic impact upon the GABAergic neurons. The current anatomical findings contribute to the concept that the MS neurons form a firmly interconnected cell group, in which cholinergic neurotransmission mediated through mAChRs seems to play a significant role.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D007858	Learning	Relatively permanent change in behavior that is the result of past experience or practice. The concept includes the acquisition of knowledge.	Phenomenography
D008297	Male		Males
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D010275	Parasympathetic Nervous System	The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system.	Nervous System, Parasympathetic,Nervous Systems, Parasympathetic,Parasympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Parasympathetic Nervous,Systems, Parasympathetic Nervous
D010320	Parvalbumins	Low molecular weight, calcium binding muscle proteins. Their physiological function is possibly related to the contractile process.	Parvalbumin,Parvalbumin B
D011976	Receptors, Muscarinic	One of the two major classes of cholinergic receptors. Muscarinic receptors were originally defined by their preference for MUSCARINE over NICOTINE. There are several subtypes (usually M1, M2, M3....) that are characterized by their cellular actions, pharmacology, and molecular biology.	Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors,Muscarinic Receptors,Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor,Muscarinic Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor, Muscarinic,Acetylcholine Receptors, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic,Receptor, Muscarinic Acetylcholine,Receptors, Muscarinic Acetylcholine
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002540	Cerebral Cortex	The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions.	Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D002795	Choline O-Acetyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of acetylcholine from acetyl-CoA and choline. EC 2.3.1.6.	Choline Acetylase,Choline Acetyltransferase,Acetylase, Choline,Acetyltransferase, Choline,Choline O Acetyltransferase,O-Acetyltransferase, Choline