Golgi impregnated somatostatin immunoreactive neurons in lamina II of the rat spinal cord.

The morphology of somatostatin immunoreactive (SOM-I) neurons in lamina (L) II of the rat spinal cord was determined using a combination of Golgi impregnation and immunohistochemistry. Golgi-impregnated SOM-I neurons that resembled islet, stalked and other cells were observed. Islet cells are considered to be inhibitory interneurons while stalked cells are excitatory and are thought to relay information from primary afferent neurons to L I projection cells. The heterogeneous morphology of SOM-I neurons suggest they have diverse functions.