ULTRACYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES IN THE DORSAL ROOT AND THE DORSAL ROOT GANGLION NEURON OF THE RAT SPINAL CORD

ACID PHOSPHATASE AND THIAMINE MONOPHOSPHATASE

Abstract

Acid phosphatase (AcPase) and thiamine monophosphatase (TMPase) activities from the dorsal root to the dorsal root ganglion neuron in the rat spinal cord were studied under the electron microscope. The reaction products for AcPase activity were localized on the axolemma of the dorsal root and in the lysosome, the Golgi saccules, the reticular part of the Golgi apparatus (so-called GERL) and a part of the endoplasmic reticulum of the dorsal root ganglion neuron. Other reaction products for TMPase activity were localized in the axolemma of the dorsal root and the Golgi saccules and the reticular part of the Golgi apparatus of the dorsal root ganglion neuron. Both higher activities for the dorsal root ganglion neuron were established by comparison with the other neurons. It is suggested here from investigation that both activities are transported from the dorsal root ganglion neuron to the synaptic membrane of the dense sinusoid axon terminal in the substantia gelatinosa.