Distribution of serotonin immunoreactive neurons in the brainstem of the hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, and rat
Duann, Y.H.; Wu, C.M.; Shen, C.L.
Proceedings of the National Science Council Republic of China. Part B Life Sciences 13(3): 218-229
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0255-6596 PMID: 2594865 Document Number: 330927
Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to study the distribution of serotonin (5-HT) immunoreactive neurons in the brainstem of the hamster, guinea pig, rabbit and rat. 5-HT neurons were principally found to be concentrated in the midline raphe nuclei, particularly, the raphe pallidus, raphe obscurus, raphe magnus, raphe magnus, raphe median, raphe pontis and raphe dorsalis nuclei. Characteristically, these cell bodies are are displayed in bands or wing-like patterns which extend laterally from the raphe into reticular formations. The formation often appear to blend with the catecholamine system. They are particularly evident in the brainstems of the rabbit and hamster which contain wider and more lateral extensions of the serotonergic (5-HT) neurons than those observed in the brainstem of the rat and guinea pig. The widespread distribution of 5-HT immunoreacted cell bodies in the brainstem shows that there are significant prospects of 5-HT in neuronal activities.