Biomaterial Database

Morphologic analysis of rat retino-collicular neuron terminals containing monoamine oxidase. 1996

J Nakajima, and N Saito, and K Kani, and T Maeda

Department of Ophthalmology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan.

The retino-collicular neuron terminals containing type A monoamine oxidase (MAO-A) in the stratum griseum superficiale of the rat superior colliculus were analyzed to provide a morphologic basis for the physiologic role of these neurons in the visual pathway. A computer-assisted, three-dimensional reconstruction of the terminal complex associated with the MAO-A-positive terminals was performed. MAO-A-positive terminals originated in the retina and terminated in the stratum griseum superficiale. This was confirmed by tract tracing and enucleation experiments. The terminals were densely grouped in clusters of irregularly shaped swellings. Electron microscopy revealed that the MAO-A-positive terminals were located in a glomerulus-like structure. In this terminal complex, a significant proportion of the axonal profiles (42.96%) synapsed with the MAO-A-positive terminals. Most of the profiles (24.16%) resembled presynaptic dendrites, which represent intermediate elements between the retinal terminals and conventional dendrites. Unlike the glomerulus in the dorsal lateral geniculate body, the MAO-A-positive terminal swellings were not located in the central part of the terminal complex. The terminals had an irregular shape and were located in the complex. The terminal complex was partially ensheathed by glial processes. Furthermore, the membrane surfaces exhibiting synaptic specializations were very small compared with the total surface of the terminal swellings. The membrane length of the synaptic specialization was 5.38% of the total perimeter of the MAO-A-positive terminals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008995	Monoamine Oxidase	An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of naturally occurring monoamines. It is a flavin-containing enzyme that is localized in mitochondrial membranes, whether in nerve terminals, the liver, or other organs. Monoamine oxidase is important in regulating the metabolic degradation of catecholamines and serotonin in neural or target tissues. Hepatic monoamine oxidase has a crucial defensive role in inactivating circulating monoamines or those, such as tyramine, that originate in the gut and are absorbed into the portal circulation. (From Goodman and Gilman's, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p415) EC 1.4.3.4.	Amine Oxidase (Flavin-Containing),MAO,MAO-A,MAO-B,Monoamine Oxidase A,Monoamine Oxidase B,Type A Monoamine Oxidase,Type B Monoamine Oxidase,Tyramine Oxidase,MAO A,MAO B,Oxidase, Monoamine,Oxidase, Tyramine
D009411	Nerve Endings	Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS.	Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D009434	Neural Pathways	Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another.	Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
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
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013477	Superior Colliculi	The anterior pair of the quadrigeminal bodies which coordinate the general behavioral orienting responses to visual stimuli, such as whole-body turning, and reaching.	Colliculus, Superior,Optic Lobe, Human,Optic Lobe, Mammalian,Optic Tectum,Anterior Colliculus,Superior Colliculus,Tectum, Optic,Colliculi, Superior,Colliculus, Anterior,Human Optic Lobe,Human Optic Lobes,Mammalian Optic Lobe,Mammalian Optic Lobes,Optic Lobes, Human,Optic Lobes, Mammalian,Optic Tectums,Tectums, Optic
D015353	Eye Enucleation	The surgical removal of the eyeball leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact.	Enucleation Surgery,Enucleation Technique,Enucleation Surgeries,Enucleation Techniques,Enucleation, Eye,Eye Enucleations,Surgery, Enucleation
D017208	Rats, Wistar	A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain.	Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats