抄録
Brains of the golden hamster were examined by immunofluorescent and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) methods using antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or serotonin (5-HT).
The localization of monoaminergic nerve cell bodies in the brain of the golden hamster was found to be similar to that of the rat by histofluorescent and immunofluorescent methods. Monoaminergic nerve fibers and terminals were widely distributed throughout the brain. Especially on the supraependymal part of the ventricle, 5-HT-positive varicose fibers were visualized, but a few TH-positive nerve processes in the ventromedial periventricular hypothalamus and in the caudal portion of the locus coeruleus were observed to penetrate into the ventricular lumen.
By immunocytochemistry, TH- or 5-HT-positive reaction products were found in the cytoplasm except for cisternae of Golgi apparatus and mitochondria of neurons of Al cell group or raphe dorsalis. TH- or 5-HT-immunoreactive granules were occasionally found in each neuron, and their diameters were 100-140nm for TH or 110-120nm for 5-HT, respectively. Granules contained in nerve fibers were slightly smaller than those contained in nerve cell bodies.
