Existence of new dopaminergic terminal plexus in the rat spinal cord: assessment by immunohistochemistry using anti-dopamine serum.

The present study revealed existence of a new dopaminergic nerve terminal plexus in the rat spinal cord, which was visualized by means of the peroxidase antiperoxidase immunohistochemical technique utilizing antibody prepared against conjugated dopamine. Dopamine (DA)-immunoreactive nerve terminals occurred along the ventral motor column throughout all spinal levels, as well as previously noted presumed dopaminergic nerve terminals within the intermediolateral cell column, the dorsal horn and in the area surrounding the central canal. In these new terminals of the anterior column, fine DA-immunoreactive nerve terminals concentrated around motoneurons, suggesting that the dopaminergic nerve system may also be involved in somatic motor processes of the spinal cord.