Spiny Type Research Articles

Potential of spineless Lasia spinosa as a neglected indigenous vegetable

ABSTRACT Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites (LS) is characterized by its pointed and sharp spines which is an impediment to popular commercial cultivation. Apart from typical LS, there are morphotypes: lamina dissected (LD), mixed (MX), and spineless (SP). The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of a spineless type as a crop for use in addition to spiny LS types. Plant growth and yield parameters were evaluated using field-grown plants of each type and in the assessment of nutritional and organoleptic properties. There were no differences among growth rates of MX, SP, and LS leaves. Both leaf and rhizome yield were not different among LS and its morphotypes. The SP had similar N, P, and K concentrations in the rhizome and tender leaves compared with other morphotypes and LS. The LS and its three morphotypes having less phenols had less antioxidant capacity. Crude fiber content was not different between samples. Even though spineless type was not different in yield and growth and nutritional and organoleptic properties, it has high potential to be used in future improvement of L. spinosa as an edible aroid.

Evolution of the genus Cribroconcha (Ostracoda, Crustacea) in relationship to palaeoecological changes during the late Palaeozoic

To date, 37 species and 2 subspecies (36 species plus 1 species that with 2 subspecies) of the ostracode genus CribroconchaCooper, 1941 have been reported worldwide, ranging in age from the Middle Devonian to the Early Permian with an acme during the Carboniferous. Based on the geographical distribution and morphological characteristics of Cribroconcha, two evolutionary lineages (i.e., Lineage 1 and Lineage 2) are identified, which originated in the European and the Kazakhstan plates, respectively. Lineage 1 can be subdivided into three types: 1-A (stable type), 1-B (reshaped type) and 1-C (spiny type). Lineage 2 has a simpler pattern of evolution compared to Lineage 1. Although there were certain accompanying changes in the morphology of carapaces, the general pattern and most successful evolutionary novelty of Cribroconcha appears to be the appearance of spiny forms in the Early Carboniferous, which continued to be preserved until the Early Permian. The habitats of Cribroconcha may have changed from shallow, warm waters to deep, calm and colder waters in the basinal environments. Four Cribroconcha biozones, extending from the Givetian Stage to Serpukhovian Stage are established in the Euramerica plate, namely C. beckmanni Zone, C. triquetra triquetra Zone, C. cooperi Zone and C. caneyensis Zone.

Morphological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Human Intrinsic Gastric Neurons

Our knowledge about human gastric enteric neuron types is even more limited than that of human intestinal types. Here, we immunohistochemically stained wholemounts and sections of gastric specimens obtained from 18 tumor-resected patients. Myenteric wholemounts were labeled for choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and the human neuronal protein HuC/D (as pan­neuronal marker for quantitative analysis) or alternatively for neurofilament (for morphological evaluation). ChAT-positive neurons outnumbered NOS-positive neurons (56 vs. 27%), and neurons negative for both markers accounted for 17%. Two larger groups of neurons (each between 12 and 14%) costained for ChAT and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or for NOS and VIP, respectively. Clear morphochemical correlation was found for uniaxonal stubby type I neurons (ChAT+; putative excitatory inter- or motor neurons), for uniaxonal spiny type I neurons (NOS+/VIP+; putative inhibitory motor or interneurons), and for multiaxonal type II neurons (ChAT+; putative afferent neurons; immunostaining of additional wholemounts revealed their coreactivity for somatostatin). Whereas these latter neuron types were already known from the human intestine, the morphology of gastric myenteric neurons coreactive for ChAT and VIP was newly described: they had numerous short, extremely thin dendrites and resembled, together with their cell bodies, a “hairy” head. In our sections, nerve fibers coreactive for ChAT and VIP were commonly found only in the mucosa. We suggest these myenteric ChAT+/VIP+/hairy neurons to be mucosal effector neurons. In contrast to myenteric neurons, the much less common submucosal neurons were not embedded in a continuous plexus and did not display any clear morphochemical phenotypes.

Variations in the germination characteristics in response to environmental factors between the hairy and spiny seeds of hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis Huds.)

Torilis arvensis Huds. produces two types of mericarps, spiny and hairy (referred to as seeds hereafter), but little information is available on their germination behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the different germination characteristics of hairy and spiny seeds in T. arvensis in response to environmental factors. Both seed types were dormant at harvesting, but the spiny type had a deeper dormancy level and required a more prolonged after‐ripping period. In general, T. arvensis seed germination and seedling emergence responses to examined factors were similar between the two seed types. The highest germination percentage was observed in pH 7. Germination was the highest at a temperature of 20°C. Light did not affect seed germination. T. arvensis was sensitive to osmotic stress induced by NaCl or PEG6000. No seedlings emerged when the seeds were buried at soil depth of 6 cm and deeper soil depths. The results indicate that T. arvensis has the potential to spread into more areas devoted to Apiaceae crops in Iran. Tillage would be beneficial to its effective control in these crops.

What neurons hide behind calretinin immunoreactivity in the human gut?

Calretinin (CALR) is often used as an immunohistochemical marker for the histopathological diagnosis of human intestinal neuropathies. However, little is known about its distribution pattern with respect to specific human enteric neuron types. Prior studies revealed CALR in both myenteric and submucosal neurons, most of which colabel with choline acetyl transferase (ChAT). Here, we specified the chemical code of CALR-positive neurons in small and large intestinal wholemounts in a series of 28 patients. Besides other markers, we evaluated the labeling pattern of CALR in combination with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In colonic submucosa, CALR and VIP were almost completely colocalized in about three-quarters of all submucosal neurons. In the small intestinal submucosa, both the colocalization rate of CALR and VIP as well as the proportion of these neurons were lower (about one-third). In the myenteric plexus of both small intestine and colon, CALR amounted to 11 and 10%, respectively, whereas VIP to 5 and 4% of the whole neuron population, respectively. Colocalization of both markers was found in only 2 and 3% of myenteric neurons, respectively. In section specimens, nerve fibers coreactive for CALR and VIP were found in the mucosa but not in the muscle coat. Summarizing the present and earlier results, CALR was found in at least one submucosal and two myenteric neuron populations. Submucosal CALR+/VIP+/ChAT± neurons innervate mucosal structures. Furthermore, CALR immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus was observed in morphological type II (supposed primary afferent) and spiny type I (supposed inter- or motor-) neurons.

Quantitative Estimation and Chemical Coding of Spiny Type I Neurons in Human Intestines

Previous studies have shown that most human myenteric neurons co-staining for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and neurofilaments (NF) display the morphology of spiny type I neurons displaying a descending projection pattern. Here, we estimated the proportions of spiny neurons in human intestines, the amount of congruence of VIP/nNOS-immunoreactive with spiny neurons and whether galanin (GAL) is co-localized with VIP. Three sets of colchicine-pretreated and fixed whole mounts of 21 patients or body donors (median age 65 years; 10 female, 11 male) were stained for VIP, nNOS and NF, for VIP, nNOS and the human neuronal protein Hu C/D (HU) as well as for VIP, nNOS and GAL. The majority of VIP/nNOS-co-reactive neurons were spiny neurons (79/80% in small/large intestine, respectively) and the majority of spiny neurons co-stained for VIP and nNOS (82/69%). Neurons co-immunoreactive for VIP/nNOS/HU amounted to 7 and 4%, respectively. GAL/VIP-co-immunoreactivity was demonstrated in 69 and 27% of spiny neurons, respectively. We conclude that the number of neurons displaying co-reactivity for VIP and nNOS is a quantitative indicator of spiny neurons in both small and large intestine and that the proportion of spiny neurons is about 7% in small and 4% in large intestines. Since nerve fibres co-staining for NF/VIP/nNOS were found mainly in the circular muscle layer but not the surrounding perikarya of spiny neurons, we suggest that they may represent inhibitory motor neurons rather than descending interneurons.

High- and medium-molecular-weight neurofilament proteins define specific neuron types in the guinea-pig enteric nervous system

Previous studies have demonstrated that neurofilament proteins are expressed by type II neurons in the enteric plexuses of a range of species from mouse to human. However, two previous studies have failed to reveal this association in the guinea-pig. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry for neurofilaments has revealed neurons with a single axon and spiny dendrites in human and pig but this morphology has not been described in the guinea-pig or other species. We have used antibodies against high- and medium-weight neurofilament proteins (NF-H and NF-M) to re-examine enteric neurons in the guinea-pig. NF-H immunoreactivity occurred in all type II neurons (identified by their IB4 binding) but these neurons were never NF-M-immunoreactive. On the other hand, 17% of myenteric neurons expressed NF-M. Many of these were uni-axonal neurons with spiny dendrites and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity. NOS immunoreactivity occurred in surface expansions of the cytoplasm that did not contain neurofilament immunoreactivity. Thus, because of their NOS immunoreactivity, spiny neurons had the appearance of type I neurons. This indicates that the apparent morphologies and the morphological classifications of these neurons are dependent on the methods used to reveal them. We conclude that spiny type I NOS-immunoreactive neurons have similar morphologies in human and guinea-pig and that many of these are inhibitory motor neurons. Both type II and neuropeptide-Y-immunoreactive neurons in the submucosal ganglia exhibit NF-H immunoreactivity. NF-M has been observed in nerve fibres, but not in nerve cell bodies, in the submucosa.

Influence of seedlings per hill on productivity and seed quality characteristics of safflower cv. K1

Generally in crop cultivation sowing is taken up with two to three seeds per hill and are thinned at later stage to one to two seedlings per hill. For seed production maintenance of one seedling per hill is highly recommended as minimum number of seedlings to enable the plant to grow profusely which ultimately increases the yield and quality characters of the resultant seed. Moreover, studies on number of seedlings per hill will be appropriate as entering into field after cultivation will be much difficult in spiny types of safflower. Standardization of such management technique would be useful for increased seed yield with better seed quality characters. Hence, studies were made with spiny type safflower cv. K 1 released from TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

A first linkage map of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.) based on AFLP, S-SAP, M-AFLP and microsatellite markers

We present the first genetic maps of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L. 2n=2x=34), constructed with a two-way pseudo-testcross strategy. A F1 mapping population of 94 individuals was generated between a late-maturing, non-spiny type and an early-maturing spiny type. The 30 AFLP, 13 M-AFLP and 9 S-SAP primer combinations chosen identified, respectively, 352, 38 and 41 polymorphic markers. Of 32 microsatellite primer pairs tested, 12 identified heterozygous loci in one or other parent, and 7 were fully informative as they segregated in both parents. The female parent map comprised 204 loci, spread over 18 linkage groups and spanned 1330.5 cM with a mean marker density of 6.5 cM. The equivalent figures for the male parent map were 180 loci, 17 linkage groups, 1239.4 and 6.9 cM. About 3% of the AFLP and AFLP-derived markers displayed segregation distortion with a P value below 0.01, and were not used for map construction. All the SSR loci were included in the linkage analysis, although one locus did show some segregation distortion. The presence of 78 markers in common to both maps allowed the alignment of 16 linkage groups. The maps generated provide a firm basis for the mapping of agriculturally relevant traits, which will then open the way for the application of a marker-assisted selection breeding strategy in this species.

Population structure and genetic variation in autochthonous globe artichoke germplasm from Sicily Island

Globe artichoke is native to the Mediterranean basin, where it is presumed to have evolved from the wild cardoon. Italy is a leading producer and numerous varietal types, which are usually vegetatively propagated, are grown. At present, Italian germplasm is at risk of genetic erosion due to the recent introduction of varieties selected abroad, as well as the concentration on a limited number of varietal types best fitting market demand. The aim of this study was to assess the level of genetic variation, via AFLP fingerprinting, present in autochthonous globe artichoke germplasm in Sicily, thought to be one of the origins of its domestication. Seven populations were identified, of which three were of the spiny type ‘Spinoso di Palermo’ and four of the non-spiny type ‘Violetto di Sicilia’. A significant genetic differentiation between spiny and non-spiny types was found. In each type, the majority of the genetic variation was present within, rather than between populations, presumably as a consequence of the multiclonal composition of each varietal type. Most of the populations were genetically distinct, as a result of farm fragmentation and adaptation to local pedo-climatic conditions. The genetic distribution detected supplies important information for the implementation of ‘on farm’ germplasm preservation strategies, and stresses the need for clonal selection programmes in order to provide more uniform material to farmers.

Fossil marine diatom resting spore morpho-genus Xanthiopyxis Ehrenberg in the North Pacific and Norwegian Sea

Abstract Fossil marine diatom resting spore species in the morpho-genus Xanthiopyxis Ehrenberg are described using samples from DSDP Site 338 in the Norwegian Sea, Sites 436 and 438 in the northwest Pacific and from the onland section at Newport Beach, California. Xanthiopyxis is characterized by numerous knobs, spines and bristles covering the entire valve face. In this paper eleven species, of which seven are new species, are described and their stratigraphic ranges are presented: X. polaris Gran, X. norwegica Suto, sp. nov., X. brevispinosa Suto, sp. nov., X. teneropunctata Suto, sp. nov., X. lanceolatus Suto, sp. nov., X. circulatus Suto, sp. nov., X. reticulata Suto, sp. nov., X. obesa Suto, sp. nov., X. hirsuta Hanna and Grant, X. oblonga Ehrenberg and X. globosa Ehrenberg. In addition, resting spores which lack sufficient characteristics to identify easily are assigned to three informal species: Xanthiopyxis type A (knobbly type), X. type B (short spiny type) and X. type C (long spiny type).

Computer-assisted morphometric analysis of intrinsic axon terminals in the supragranular layers of cat striate cortex.

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of terminal arborizations of biocytin-labeled axon terminals were carried out in the cat primary visual cortex (V1). Extracellular iontophoretic injections of 5% biocytin were made into V1 of five adult cats. The animals were perfused 24-48 h after the injections. Labeled-axon fragments were considered to comprise two presumptive groups, according to the qualitative features, thickness, bouton features and appearance of terminal arbors. Forty axon fragments (20 for each presumptive group) were digitized using a microscope with motorized stage and a z-encoder, attached to a microcomputer. The densities of boutons, branching points and axon segments per mm of axon as well as axon segment length were used for comparison of the two groups. The two qualitative groups were confirmed to contain two axon types (I and II), according to cluster analysis of characteristics of the 40 axons in our sample. Forward stepwise discriminant analysis retained two variables as predictors of group membership: axonal length and bouton density. Parametric and non-parametric tests were employed for statistical comparisons (significance at P < 0.01). Type II axon fragments showed the greatest densities of boutons, axonal segments and branching points and the smallest values of length of segments ( P < 0.01). Both the qualitative and quantitative differences found for both types of axons suggest that they belong to different functional classes of neurons, namely spiny (type I) and smooth neurons (type II). Computer-assisted morphometric analysis of individual axon fragments seems to be a suitable approach with which different axon types can be objectively distinguished from each other.

In vivo activity-dependent plasticity at cortico-striatal connections: evidence for physiological long-term potentiation.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate in vivo the activity-dependent plasticity of glutamatergic cortico-striatal synapses. Electrical stimuli were applied in the facial motor cortex and intracellular recordings were performed in the ipsilateral striatal projection field of this cortical area. Recorded cells exhibited the typical intrinsic membrane properties of striatal output neurons and were identified morphologically as medium spiny type I neurons. Subthreshold cortical tetanization produced either short-term posttetanic potentiation or short-term depression of cortically-evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials. When coupled with a postsynaptic depolarization leading the membrane potential to a suprathreshold level, the tetanus induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of cortico-striatal synaptic transmission. Induction of striatal LTP was prevented by intracellular injection of a calcium chelator suggesting that this synaptic plasticity involves an increase of postsynaptic free calcium concentration. Contrasting with previous in vitro studies our findings demonstrate that LTP constitutes the normal form of use-dependent plasticity at cortico-striatal synapses. Since excitation of striatal neurons produces a disinhibition of premotor networks, LTP at excitatory striatal inputs should favor the initiation of movements and therefore could be critical for the functions of basal ganglia in motor learning.

The Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus shows a strong affinity to the Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus

The classification of the African spiny mice (genus Acomys) within the Muridae family of rodents has been fraught with controversy. Morphological data suggest a close affinity between this group and true old world mice of the genus Mus. However, the combined results of immunological, biochemical, and DNA melting studies suggest that spiny mice should not even be considered as members of the Murinae subfamily. To further elucidate the position of the spiny mice within the rodent phylogenetic tree, we performed a direct sequence comparison of a 583-nucleotide homologous region from the spiny mouse type species Acomys cahirinus and five other representative rodent species. Our results provide incontrovertible evidence to support the contention that the spiny mouse is more closely related to the Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus than it is to Mus musculus.

VARIABILITY AND CORRELATION IN SAFFLOWER

Twenty-eight diverse genotypes of safflower studied for the extent of genetic variability for yield and yield components revealed that maximum difference between GCV and PCV under rainfed and irrigated cropping was observed for number of heads and branches per plant indicating the susceptibility of these traits to environment. In general, the spiny types performed under irrigated condition and the non-spiny genotypes under rainfed conditions. The dwarf genotypes recorded high seed yield under irrigated conditions and the non-spiny genotypes under rainfed conditions. The dwarf genotypes recorded high seed yield under irrigated conditions and the intermediates under rainfed condition. Number of branches and heads were interrelated under both conditions..

The morphology of globus pallidus projection neurons in the rat: an intracellular staining study

The morphology of 23 intracellular stained projection neurons of rat globus pallidus (GP) was studied in light microscopic preparations. The somatic size of these projection neurons was highly variable. The somatic area ranged from 78 to 353 μm 2. The 23 neurons were divided into aspiny and spiny types, based on the existence of dendritic spines. Sixteen neurons were aspiny and 7 were of the spiny type. THe aspiny neurons tended to have a larger soma than the spiny neurons. Fourteen of the 23 projection neurons possessed a discoidal dendritic field w3ith the flat plane parallel to the border between the GP and the neosatriatum. All of the 14 neurons having a discoidal dendritic field were of the aspiny typeand were located throughout the GP. The other 9 neurons, which include all the 7 aspiny types, had radiating dendritic fields with a variety of shapes and were located only in the medical region of the GP. The axons of a majority (i.e. 21 of 23) of the projection neurons emitted multiple collaterals with large boutons en-passant and boutons terminaux within the GP. The main axons were traced to varying distances from their somata. Four of them were traced into the substantia nigra. Two of these 4 emitted multiple collaterals at various rostro-caudal levels in the entopeduncular nucleus, and all 4 axons had one or two collaterals in the subthalamic nucleus. This study revealed that the rat GP contains two types of projection neurons having different dendritic morphologies. The axon reconstruction indicate that the activity of both types of neurons can influence multiple basal ganglia targets, including the GP itself.

Ultrastructural analysis of graft-to-host connections, with special reference to dopamine-neuropeptide Y interactions in the rat striatum, after transplantation of fetal mesencephalon cells.

In a previous study we demonstrated that grafted dopamine (DA) neurons are able to induce an early and widespread normalization of DA-neuropeptide Y (NPY) interactions in the host striatum previously deprived of its DA input. Since similar recoveries were found to occur in striatal areas densely or poorly reinnervated by the graft, the question was raised as to what mechanisms (synaptic or volumic release) were involved in these functional effects. Ultrastructural analysis of graft-to-host relationships was performed using single--and double--immunolabelling techniques to detect neurons containing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NPY, with a view to analysing the early establishment of synaptic connectivity in various areas of the host striatum. Within 1 month of the grafting, TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons showed most of the normal intrinsic morphological features characteristic of adult rat neurons and were found to have established direct relationships with various striatal neuronal populations. TH-NPY relationships were observed only in the area most densely reinnervated by the graft, and their relative frequency was found to be roughly the same as that determined in the intact striatum. Three months after the grafting, this percentage decreased, probably owing to the further elongation in TH-IR axons resulting in a wider distribution of the TH-NPY associations over the host striatum. In the zones distal from the graft, the reinnervation was far from complete and the few TH-IR fibres projected only to some unlabelled elements, mainly of the spiny type, which have been shown to interact normally with both DA afferents and NPY cells and therefore may relay the DA action over the whole striatum on the NPY population. It can be concluded from these data that the rapid and extensive functional normalization of the TH-NPY interactions previously found to occur in the entire striatum may depend on the restoration of direct and indirect synaptic relationships. A diffuse action of DA through non-synaptic mechanisms may also account for the fact that the amine has access to broader striatal populations than to those presumably reached by DA fibres arising from the graft.

Intrinsic GABAergic neurons in the rat central extended amygdala

The present study examined the distribution, morphology, and connections of gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive (GABA-IR) neurons in the three principal components of the central extended amygdala: the central amygdaloid nucleus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and the sublenticular substantia innominata. In the central nucleus, large numbers of GABA-IR neurons were identified in the lateral, lateral capsular, and ventral subdivisions, though in the medial subdivision, GABA-IR neurons were only present at very caudal levels. Combined immunocytochemistry-Golgi impregnation revealed that GABA-IR neurons in the lateral central nucleus were medium-sized spiny neurons that were morphologically similar to GABAergic neurons in the striatum. Injections of horseradish peroxidase into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis labeled a major proportion of the GABA-IR neurons in the central nucleus. In the bed nucleus, the majority of GABA-IR neurons were located in the anterolateral subdivision, ventral part of the posterolateral subdivision and the parastrial subdivision. GABA-IR neurons in the anterolateral bed nucleus were of the typical medium-sized spiny type. Injections of horseradish peroxidase into the central nucleus labeled a few GABA-IR neurons in the posterior part of the anterolateral bed nucleus. GABA-IR neurons were identified in the sublenticular substantia innominata and medial shell of the nucleus accumbens and contributed to the continuum of GABA-IR extending from the central nucleus to the bed nucleus. Injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the central nucleus, but not the BNST, labeled a few GABA-IR neurons in the substantia innominata. The data point to GABA-IR neurons being a characteristic feature of the central extended amygdala and that GABA-IR neurons participate in the long intrinsic connections linking the major components of this structure. Since lesions of the stria terminalis and basolateral amygdaloid nucleus failed to deplete GABA-IR terminals in the central nucleus, the role of GABA in local and short intrinsic connections in the central extended amygdala is discussed. Further, physiological findings implicating the intrinsic GABAergic system of the central extended amygdala in the tonic inhibition of brainstem efferents are reviewed.

Relationships of the Dendritic Arborizations of Ventral Striatomesencephalic Projection Neurons With Boundaries of Striatal Compartments. An In Vitro Intracellular Labelling Study in the Rat.

We studied the relationships of the dendrites of ventral striatomesencephalic projection neurons with the compartmental structure of the ventral striatum, as revealed by enkephalin immunohistochemistry. Lightly fixed slices were employed in which Lucifer yellow was intracellularly injected into neurons that were retrogradely labelled following Fast Blue injections in the ventral tegmental area. Double immunohistochemical staining was carried out using antisera to Lucifer yellow and Leu-enkephalin. Most of the 226 injected cells were located in the core region of the nucleus accumbens. All these neurons were of the small- to medium-sized spiny type. The dendritic arborizations of over 90% of the cells remained within the compartment in which the parent cell bodies resided. The dendrites of most of these neurons abutted the border of the compartment, whereas a smaller number of neurons had dendrites that were distant from any compartmental boundary. The dendrites of fewer than 10% of the neurons crossed the borders of compartments. Only a few cells were injected in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens. None of these neurons extended its dendrites into the core region of the nucleus or into the territory of the clusters of small cells which characterize the shell. The present results demonstrate that the dendrites of the great majority of ventral striatomesencephalic neurons comply with the boundaries of ventral striatal enkephalin compartments. Together with the results of previous studies showing that such compartments are selectively innervated by thalamic and cortical afferents, and have outputs to different areas in the ventral mesencephalon, the present data suggest the existence of discrete channels through the ventral striatum.

Spiny and aspiny types of neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neurons in the monkey neostriatum

The present study demonstrates the existence of two types of neurons with neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactivity in the neostriatum of the monkey ( Macacus fuscatus) by using the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. One type, accounted for about 80% of striatal NPY cells, corresponded to the medium-sized aspiny type neurons. The other type resembled the medium-sized, spiny type II neurons. These findings suggest that there are at least two functional subpopulations of NPY neurons in the monkey neostriatum.