Synaptic terminals wrapped in the somatic cytoplasm of pigmented neurons in the human locus ceruleus

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Mar 31;188(3):147-50. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(95)11416-t.

Abstract

We examined the locus ceruleus (LC) of 59 autopsied individuals whose ages at death ranged from 5 to 108 years. Immunocytochemistry with synaptic vesicle-specific 38-kDa protein (SVP) revealed that clusters of SVP-like immunoreactive coarse granules were present in the somatic cytoplasm of some pigmented neurons in all individuals examined. These SVP-like immunoreactive granules were confirmed electron microscopically to be contained in synaptic terminals which were wrapped in the somatic cytoplasm of pigmented LC neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autopsy
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytoplasm / ultrastructure*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Locus Coeruleus / cytology*
  • Locus Coeruleus / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
  • Neurons / ultrastructure*
  • Pigmentation
  • Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure*
  • Synaptic Vesicles / chemistry

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • SVP-38 protein, human