Description
This volume provides an interdisciplinary approach to this central research topic. Firstly, the hippocampus is presented generally as a model for experiments on neurotransmission in the central nervous system; secondly, special features of synaptic organisation and synaptic transmission in this area of the brain are introduced. Of particular note is the wide-ranging methodological approach which includes light and electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, Golgi/EM techniques, intracellular differentiation and intracellular colorings, histochemistry of transmitter enzymes and receptoraudiography. The reader thereby gains insight into the broad scope of methodological possibilities for the examination of such a complex problem as neurotransmission in the hippocampus. 1 Introduction.- 2 Neuronal Elements in the Hippocampus and Their Synaptic Connections.- 2.1 Hippocampal Neurons.- 2.1.1 Pyramidal Cells in CA1.- 2.1.2 Pyramidal Cells in CA3.- 2.1.3 Dentate Granule Cells.- 2.1.4 Nonpyramidal Neurons.- 2.2 Synaptic Connections of Identified Neurons in the Hippocampus.- 2.2.1 Principles of Hippocampal Innervation.- 2.2.2 Extrinsic Afferents to the Hippocampus and Fascia Dentata.- 2.2.2.1 Entorhinal Afferents.- 2.2.2.2 Cholinergic Fibers.- 2.2.2.3 Commissural Afferents.- 2.2.3 Intrinsic Connections.- 2.2.3.1 Mossy Fibers.- 2.2.3.2 GABAergic Terminals.- 2.3 Functional Implications.- 3 Membrane Properties and Postsynaptic Responses of Hippocampal Neurons.- 3.1 Various Cell Types in the Slice Preparation.- 3.2 Short-Distance Excitatory Connections.- 3.3 GABAergic Inhibition.- 3.4 Cholinergic Excitation.- 3.5 Conclusions.- 4 The Enzyme Histochemistry of Neurotransmitter Metabolism.- 4.1 Enzymes Related to the Cholinergic Transmitter System.- 4.1.1 Acetylcholinesterase.- 4.2 Enzymes Related to the Amino Acid Transmitter System.- 4.2.1 Enzymes in Glutamate Metabolism.- 4.2.1.1 Aspartate Aminotransferase.- 4.2.1.2 Glutamate Dehydrogenase.- 4.2.1.3 Glutaminases.- 4.2.2 Enzymes in GABA Metabolism.- 4.2.2.1 GABA Transaminase.- 4.3 Conclusions.- 5 Receptor Autoradiography in the Hippocampus of Man and Rat.- 5.1 Quantitative Receptor Autoradiography as a Functional Approach.- 5.2 Distribution of Receptors in the Hippocampus of the Rat.- 5.2.1 5-HT System.- 5.2.2 Cholinergic System.- 5.2.3 Glutamate System.- 5.2.4 Colocalization of Different Receptors on the Level of Hippocampal Layers.- 5.3 Distribution of Binding Sites in the Human Hippocampus.- 5.3.1 5-HT1 System.- 5.3.2 Glutamate System.- 5.4 Comparison of Receptor Distribution in the Hippocampus of Rat and Man.- 5.4.1 5-HT System.- 5.4.2 Glutamate System.- Concluding Remarks.- Summary.- References.
