Fluorescence histochemical study of the localisation and distribution of beta-adrenergic receptor sites in the spinal cord and cerebellum of the chicken
Bondok, A.A.; Botros, K.G.; el-Mohandes, E.A.
Journal of Anatomy 160: 167-174
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 2855328 Document Number: 319410
The distribution of B-adrenoceptor sites has been studied in chicken spinal cord and cerebellum using a fluorescent analogue of propranolol, 9-amino-acridin-propranolol (9-AAP). In the spinal cord, B-adrenoceptor sites were concentrated on cell bodies of .alpha.-motor neurons of the dorsolateral and ventrolateral nuclear groups of the ventral horn in the cervical and lumbar regions. In the dorsal horn, the receptor sites were present mainly on cell bodies of columna dorsalis magnocellularis. In the thoracic region, they were present on cell bodies of the preganglionic sympathetic nucleus (dorsal commissural nucleus). Sparse distribution of fluorescence was present in other regions of the gray matter and was absent in the white matter. In the cerebellum, a dense distribution of B-adrenergic receptor sites was observed on Purkinje cell bodies and their apical dendrites. Sparse distribution of receptor sites was present on fine ramifications of Purkinje cell dendrites in the molecular layer. Receptor sites were absent in the granule cell layer and the white matter. These observations indicate that .alpha.-motor neurons, preganglionic sympathetic neurons, neurons of columna dorsalis magnocellularis, and Purkinje cells are adrenoceptive, while granule cells are nonadrenoceptive.