Patterns of transmitter labelling and connectivity of the cat's nucleus of Darkschewitsch: a wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and immunocytochemical study at light and electron microscopical levels.

Immunocytochemical studies using antibodies raised against a number of probable synaptic transmitters of the mesodiencephalic area, and fibre-tracing studies using wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), have been performed in adult cats. Glutamate and aspartate immunoreactivity produced a strong labelling of many cell bodies and terminals in the nucleus of Darkschewitsch (ND). gamma-Aminobutyrate (GABA) immunoreactivity in the ND appeared as a moderate label in some small neurones, and as a strong label in a few glial-like cells, in addition to being present in high levels to produce strong labelling in many GABA-immunopositive terminals that possessed pleomorphic vesicles. Some choline acetyltransferase-positive terminals and dendrites and a few substance P-positive fine fibres possessing varicosities also were observed in the ND. Following WGA-HRP injection in the ND, dense terminal labelling was seen ipsilaterally in the rostral half of the medial accessory olive, suggesting that there may be a certain degree of mediolateral and dorsoventral topographic correspondance within the ND-olive projection. In the same cases, many cell bodies containing HRP reaction product also were found 1) ipsilaterally in the motor cortex, anterior pretectal nucleus, and a restricted area of the caudal part of the substantia nigra pars reticulata; 2) contralaterally in the anterior and posterior interposed cerebellar nuclei as well as in a portion of the lateral cerebellar nucleus; and 3) bilaterally in the zona incerta, the posterior pretectal nucleus, the pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei, the spinal trigeminal nucleus, the dorsal column nuclei, and the spinal cord. Details of the interrelationships and functional considerations amongst the ND, adjacent nuclei, and longitudinal zones of the cerebellum are discussed.