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Co-localization of corticotropin-releasing factor and vesicular glutamate transporters within axon terminals of the rat dorsal raphe nucleus
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Co-localization of corticotropin-releasing factor and vesicular glutamate transporters within axon terminals of the rat dorsal raphe nucleus

Maria Waselus and Elisabeth J Van Bockstaele
Brain research, v 1174(1), pp 53-65
12 Oct 2007
PMID: 17825268
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc2175392View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified) Open

Abstract

Animals Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism Fluorescent Antibody Technique Male Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy, Immunoelectron Presynaptic Terminals - metabolism Presynaptic Terminals - ultrastructure Raphe Nuclei - cytology Raphe Nuclei - metabolism Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 - metabolism Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 - metabolism
Electrophysiological, microdialysis and behavioral studies support a modulatory role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in regulating the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN)-serotonin (5-HT) system. CRF and 5-HT are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression, thus neuroanatomical substrates of CRF-DRN-5-HT interactions are of interest. Identification of co-transmitters within DRN CRF axon terminals is important for elucidating the complex effects underlying CRF afferent regulation of DRN neurons. This study investigated whether CRF-labeled axon terminals within the DRN contain immunoreactivity for vesicular glutamate transporters (isoforms vGlut1 and vGlut2) indicative of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Dual immunohistochemistry for CRF and either vGlut1 or vGlut2 was conducted within the same tissue section and immunofluorescence results indicated patterns of immunoreactivity consistent with previous reports. Abundant vGlut1- and vGlut2-immunoreactivity was found in puncta exhibiting a largely uniform distribution, whereas CRF-immunoreactivity was localized to topographically distributed varicose processes within the DRN. Profiles containing both CRF- and either vGlut1- or vGlut2-immunoreactivity were apparent in the DRN. Electron microscopy confirmed that immunoreactivity for CRF and vGlut1 was localized primarily to separate axon terminals in the DRN, with a subset co-localizing CRF and vGlut1. Examination of CRF and vGlut2 immunoreactivities in the DRN indicated that CRF and vGlut2 were found within the same axon terminal more frequently than CRF and vGlut1. Overall, these anatomical findings suggest that CRF may function, in part, with the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in the modulation of neuronal activity in the DRN.

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