Electron microscopic autoradiography on the localization of serotonin in the frog median eminence.

Abstract

For the identification of the nerve fiber containing serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) in the frog median eminence, an electron microscopic autoradiography was performed with 5-hydroxytryptophane-3H which is the precursor of serotonin. At 1 and 24 hours after the intraperitoneal injection, most silver grains were located over the nerve fibers and endings, and a few were also found over the glia cell and the perivascular space. A large number of silver grains were located over the type 3 nerve endings (Nakai, 1971) containing small dense granules about 600–1000 A in diameter 1 and 24 hours after the injection. Some silver grains were localized over the nerve endings containing intermediate-size dense granules 1100–1700 A in diameter. Silver grains were also frequently observed over the nerve fibers in the inner layer of frog median eminence. There is no significant difference in the pattern of distribution of silver grains between tissues of 1 hour and 24 hours after the injection.