Proliferation patterns of dorsal root ganglion neurons of cutaneous, muscle and visceral nerves in the rat

In a previous study we provided evidence that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of different phenotypes have different birthdates. The present study aimed at determining if birthdates of DRG neurons are related to different types of peripheral nerves, namely cutaneous versus muscle, and somatic versus visceral. Pregnant rats were injected intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label the neurons on one of the embryonic days E12–E16. When the progeny rats reached adulthood, a mixture of 1% B-fragment of cholera toxin and 1% isolectin B4 from Griffonia simplicifolia I was injected into the peripheral nerves, or a 5% Fluoro-Gold solution was applied to the transected end of the nerves. The saphenous and sural nerves were used as cutaneous nerves, the gastrocnemius nerve as a muscle nerve, the intercostal nerves T9–11 as somatic nerves and the greater splanchnic nerve as a visceral nerve. Cell size measurements were made of DRG neurons labeled from the two cutaneous nerves and the muscle nerve, as well as of neurons of the saphenous and gastrocnemius nerves labeled by BrdU at different embryonic stages. Most of the DRG neurons of the muscle and intercostal nerves were generated early, with peaks at E13, and those of the cutaneous and visceral afferent nerves later, with peaks at E14. The temporal differences were reflected in the cell size spectrum, the muscle nerve having a greater proportion of large neurons compared to the cutaneous nerves. The findings add to previous knowledge regarding the sequence of development of different DRG phenotypes.     

Survival and regeneration of cutaneous and muscular afferent neurons after peripheral nerve injury in adult rats

Peripheral nerve injury induces the retrograde degeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, which affects predominantly the small-diameter cutaneous afferent neurons. This study compares the time-course of retrograde cell death in cutaneous and muscular DRG cells after peripheral nerve transection as well as neuronal survival and axonal regeneration after primary repair or nerve grafting. For comparison, spinal motoneurons were also included in the study. Sural and medial gastrocnemius DRG neurons were retrogradely labeled with the fluorescent tracers Fast Blue (FB) or Fluoro-Gold (FG) from the homonymous transected nerves. Survival of labeled sural and gastrocnemius DRG cells was assessed at 3 days and 1–24 weeks after axotomy. To evaluate axonal regeneration, the sciatic nerve was transected proximally at 1 week after FB-labeling of the sural and medial gastrocnemius nerves and immediately reconstructed using primary repair or autologous nerve grafting. Twelve weeks later, the fluorescent tracer Fluoro-Ruby (FR) was applied 10 mm distal to the sciatic lesion in order to double-label sural and gastrocnemius neurons that had regenerated across the repair site. Counts of labeled gastrocnemius DRG neurons did not reveal any significant retrograde cell death after nerve transection. In contrast, sural axotomy induced a delayed loss of sural DRG cells, which amounted to 22% at 4 weeks and 43–48% at 8–24 weeks postoperatively. Proximal transection of the sciatic nerve at 1 week after injury to the sural or gastrocnemius nerves neither further increased retrograde DRG degeneration, nor did it affect survival of sural or gastrocnemius motoneurons. Primary repair or peripheral nerve grafting supported regeneration of 53–60% of the spinal motoneurons and 47–49% of the muscular DRG neurons at 13 weeks postoperatively. In the cutaneous DRG neurons, primary repair or peripheral nerve grafting increased survival by 19–30% and promoted regeneration of 46–66% of the cells. The present results suggest that cutaneous DRG neurons are more sensitive to peripheral nerve injury than muscular DRG cells, but that their regenerative capacity does not differ from that of the latter cells. However, the retrograde loss of cutaneous DRG cells taking place despite immediate nerve repair would still limit the recovery of cutaneous sensory functions.     

大鼠角膜中央区SP样、CGRP样免疫阳性纤维的起源

向角膜中央区注射ＨＲＰ后，用抗ＳＰ和抗ＣＧＲＰ抗体对三叉神经节、颈上神经节和迷走神经节进行免疫组织化学处理。结果证明：双重阳性细胞出现于三叉神经节的内侧区且集中分布于背内侧部．ＣＧＲＰ样双重阳性细胞主要分布在节的背内侧部的周边区；ＳＰ样双重阳性细胞散在于节的背内侧部的深部。两者均为圆形或椭圆形。在颈上神经节和迷走神经节内未见双重阳性细胞。     

Bladder and cutaneous sensory neurons of the rat express different functional P2X receptors

The expression and functional responses of P2X receptors in bladder and cutaneous sensory neurons of adult rats and mice have been studied using immunohistochemistry and patch clamp techniques. Cell bodies of bladder pelvic afferents were identified in L6 and S1 dorsal root ganglia (DRG), following Fast Blue injection into the muscle wall of the urinary bladder. Similarly, cutaneous sensory neurons were identified in L3 and L4 DRG, following Fast Blue injection into the saphenous nerve innervating the skin. Bladder sensory neurons contained only weak to moderate P2X(3)-immunoreactivity (IR), in contrast to strong P2X(3)-IR observed in a sub-population of cutaneous afferents. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that approximately 90% of bladder afferent neurons responded to alpha beta-methylene ATP (alpha beta meATP) and ATP (30 microM) with persistent currents, which were inhibited by 2',3'-O-trinitrophenyl-ATP (TNP-ATP) (0.3 microM) to 6.4+/-1.9% and 8.0+/-2.6% of control, respectively (n=8). The remaining bladder sensory neurons demonstrated biphasic, transient or no response to P2X agonists. In contrast, only 24% of cutaneous afferent neurons gave persistent currents to alpha beta meATP (30 microM), with 66% of cells giving transient or biphasic currents and the remaining 10% being non-responsive. Our results suggest that, in contrast to DRG neurons in general, bladder sensory neurons projecting via pelvic nerves express predominantly P2X(2/3) heteromeric receptors, which are likely to mediate the important roles of ATP as a signaling molecule of urinary bladder filling and nociception.     

Simultaneous release of several tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat spinal cord slices

Superfusion of slices of the dorsal half of rat spinal cord in vitro with 10 microM capsaicin or 60 mM potassium lead to the simultaneous release of substance P (SP)-, neurokinin A (NKA)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivities (LI). The ratio between capsaicin-stimulated and basal release was higher for CGRP-LI than for SP-LI, indicating that relatively more CGRP is released from sensory nerves, whereas SP is not only released from afferent neurons. High-performance liquid chromatography of NKA-LI revealed several immunoreactive components. One major peak had the retention time of synthetic NKA. A second peak eluted close to the position of synthetic eledoisin. In conclusion, capsaicin releases several bioactive peptides from sensory neurons which may mediate the acute algetic effect of chemical irritants.     

Substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive neurons in the rat trigeminal ganglion--with special reference to meningeal and pineal innervation.

The distribution of perikarya showing substance P- (SP) or calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) in the rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) were investigated by means of immunohistochemical methods. Approximately 50% of the perikarya contain CGRP while SP-LI was observed in 1/3 of the cells. IR fibres were seen to leave the ganglion via the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. The combination of peptide histochemistry and retrograde labelling of cells in the ganglion following injection of a fluorescent tracer into the pineal gland reveals that few SP- or CGRP-LI trigeminal neurons innervate the pineal gland. In contrast, the vast majority of perikarya in the TG were labelled upon application of the tracer to the meningeal surface supporting the view that meninges and meningeal arteries in rodents are heavily innervated by SP- and CGRP-LI trigeminal neurons.     

Adenosine inhibits action potential-dependent release of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-like immunoreactivities from primary afferents in rat spinal cord.

Electrical field stimulation (5 Hz) evoked a prompt outflow of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-like immunoreactivities (CGRP-LI and SP-LI, respectively) from superfused slices of the dorsal but not ventral half of the rat spinal cord. The evoked outflow was abolished by tetrodotoxin, calcium-free medium or previous exposure to capsaicin, indicating that it is produced through action potentials invading the central terminals of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents. Adenosine as well as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or the GABAB receptor agonist (-)-baclofen produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the evoked CGRP-LI outflow. Adenosine also inhibited the evoked SP-LI outflow. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of transmitter release from primary afferent neurons should be considered as a possible mechanism of the antinociceptive action of adenosine and adenosine analogs.     

Distribution of sensory neurons of ventral and dorsal cervical cutaneous nerves in dorsal root ganglia of adult rat--a double-label study using DiO and DiI

To examine distribution of sensory neurons of ventral and dorsal cervical cutaneous nerves in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), DiO and DiI tracers were applied at the proximal section of nerves (transverse superficial cervical and anterior supraclavicular nerves were selected as ventral cervical cutaneous nerves; dorsal cutaneous branches of second, third and fourth cervical nerves were selected as dorsal cervical cutaneous nerves). Located distributions were observed in DRGs of C2, C3, and C4 (25/46 DRGs). Sensory neurons of the ventral cervical cutaneous nerves were distributed in dorso-lateral or dorso-medial portions; neurons of dorsal cervical cutaneous nerves were distributed in ventro-medial or ventro-lateral portions of DRGs. Moreover, sensory neurons of transverse superficial cervical and anterior supraclavicular nerves were mainly distributed from the caudal half of C2 to whole part of C4 DRGs. Results show that there is a tendency for located distribution in two group sensory neurons; also, sensory neurons of ventral cervical cutaneous nerves have a segmental distribution, which has been verified in the brachial and lumbar plexus.     

Reflection of visceral afferentation in unit activity in the caudate nucleus

Responses of spontaneously active neurons to visceral (splanchnic nerve) stimulation were recorded extracellularly in the head of the caudate nucleus of immobilized cats. The presence of multimodal neurons responding to stimulation of visceral, somatic, and auditory sensory systems in this structure also was established. It is concluded from these facts that neurons of the caudate nucleus may play a role in the mechanisms of interaction of visceral impulses with somatic and auditory impulses.Translated from Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal SSSR imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 189–195, February, 1976.     

Collateral projections of trigeminal ganglion neurons to both the principal sensory trigeminal and the spinal trigeminal nuclei in the rat

Employing a combination of fluorescent retro grade double labelling and immunofluorescence histo chemistry for substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-relat ed peptide (CGRP), we examined collateral projections from single neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) of the rat to both the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus (Vp) and the oral, interpolar or caudal subnuclei of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vo, Vi or Vc). In the rats that were unilaterally injected with fast blue (FB) into the Vp and with diamidino yellow (DY) into the Vo, Vi or Vc, neurons labelled with FB and/or DY were observed in the TG ipsilateral to the injections. Of the labelled TG neurons, about 2% were double labelled with both trac ers in the rats that were injected with FB into the Vp and with DY into the Vo or Vi, and about 10% were double labelled in the rats that were injected with FB into the Vp and with DY into the Vc. The results indicate that TG neurons sending their axons to the Vp project, by way of axon collaterals, to the Vc more frequently than to the Vo or Vi.Some of the TG neurons double labelled with FB and DY exhibited SP-or CGRP-like immunoreactivity (LI): Of the TG neurons that were double labelled with FB injected into the Vp and with DY injected into the Vo, Vi or Vc, about 38%, 49% and 42%, respectively, displayed SP-LI, and about 54%, 58% and 59%, respectively, showed CGRP-LI. Some of the SP-or CGRP-LI TG neurons that were double labelled with FB and DY were assumed to mediate pain signals to both the Vp and the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vo, Vi and/or Vc) by way of axon collaterals.Yun-Qing Li is on leave from the Department of Anatomy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China     

Pre-spinal convergence between thoracic and visceral nerves of the rat.

Dichotomizing sensory axons have been demonstrated in a number of species and are of significance in understanding the possible mechanisms underlying referred pain. The present study reviews work employing fluorescent dyes as tracers to demonstrate afferent dichotomization in the peripheral nervous system. Dichotomization between the intercostal and splanchnic nerves of the rat was demonstrated by means of intraneural transport of Diamidino yellow or Fast blue. Frequency of pre-spinal somato-visceral convergence averaged 2% (range 0.1-21%). Average frequency of convergence was 8.3% (range 2-23.1%) between internal and external intercostal nerves. Control experiments in which axoplasmic transport was inhibited by vinblastine ruled out the possibility of errors from non-axoplasmic transport of the markers. Thoraco-visceral pre-spinal convergence occurs in the rat and is variable in extent.     

The intramural pelvic nerves immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide in the rectum of normal and aganglionosis rat

Summary The distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive (CGRP-LI) nerves was investigated immunohistochemically in the rectum of normal, capsaicin-treated and congenital aganglionosis rats. The rectum of the normal rat was densely supplied with both extrinsic and intrinsic nerves exhibiting CGRP-like immunoreactivity. Numerous CGRP-LI nerve fibres were seen in both the myenteric and submucous plexuses. Intrinsic CGRP-LI nerve cell bodies were sparsely found in both the ganglionated plexuses, while a large inflow of extrinsic CGRP-LI nerves was characteristically observed in the rat rectum. CGRP-like immunoreactive fibres were abundant in the intramural pelvic nerves which ascend proximally in the intermuscular zone and connect with the myenteric plexus of the rat distal bowel. As compared with CGRP-positive fibres, SP- or SK-positive fibres in the intramural pelvic nerves were far less frequent. The treatment with capsaicin in the neonatal period led to a marked depletion of CGRP-immunoreactivity in these extrinsic nerves as well as in the most terminal varicose fibres seen in the whole layers of the rectal wall. These findings suggest that the vast majority of CGRP-LI fibres in the intramural pelvic nerves are sensory in nature, and that the positive nerve fibres of extrinsic origin directly innervate each layer of the rat rectum. These CGRP-LI sensory fibres associated with the intramural pelvic nerves, may be of importance in the regulation of rectal and colonic function in normal rats. A dense innervation of CGRP-LI nerve fibres, some of which showed the varicose appearance, was also found in the rectum of congenital aganglionosis rats. Thus, it is suggested that there is a large inflow of extrinsic CGRP-LI fibres from the pelvic plexus in the affected rectum. The extrinsic CGRP-LI nerves in the aganglionic segment of the mutant rat might also be related to the regulation of rectal function, providing afferent pathways.     

家兔后根节中不同周围感受野的初级传入神经无的分型和分布——HRP法

本文分别测量了家兔后根节中HRP标记的来自腓肠皮神经、小腿三头肌肌支和膀胱壁的初级传入神经元胞体的直径,并用尼氏染色标本作了对照观察。根据所测神经元胞体直径分布图形,将后根节细胞分为小型、中小型、中型、大型和特大型等5型。前二型在构造上属于小暗(B)细胞;后三型属于大亮(A)细胞。皮神经注入例的初级传入神经元,小型和中小型细胞高达78.06％;肌支注入例,中型、大型和特大型的标记细胞增至48.67％。而膀胱壁随副交感神经传入至骶尾后根节的标记细胞各型分布与皮神经者相似;随交感神经传入腰段后根节者则与肌支者接近。本文讨论了后根节细胞的分型及各型细胞与所发出纤维粗细的关系。并结合中枢内的分布讨论了各型细胞的性质。     

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1-immunopositive neurons in the mouse are more prevalent within colon afferents compared to skin and muscle afferents

Previous studies in our laboratories found that isolectin B(4)(IB(4))-positive polymodal nociceptors in the mouse do not express transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), nor does deletion of TRPV1 compromise the ability of these afferents to detect thermal stimuli. Considering that IB(4)-positive afferents account for over 70% of cutaneous nociceptors and that 30-50% of all mouse primary afferents express TRPV1, it is highly likely that many TRPV1-positive fibers project to non-cutaneous structures. To investigate this issue, Alexa Fluor-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) or IB(4) was injected into the nerves innervating quadriceps muscle (femoral) or hindlimb skin (saphenous) of male C57Bl/6 mice. Similarly, Alexa Fluor-conjugated cholera toxin-beta was injected subserosally into the distal colon. Spinal ganglia at the appropriate level (L2-3 for saphenous and femoral nerves; L6 for colon) were processed for TRPV1, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurofilament heavy chain (NHF) and IB(4) visualization and examined on a confocal microscope. Colon afferents contained the highest percentage of both TRPV1- and CGRP-positive neurons, followed by femoral (WGA) and saphenous afferents (WGA and IB(4)). In contrast, NHF staining was more prevalent among femoral afferents, followed by saphenous (WGA) and colon afferents. IB(4) binding was observed in very few colon or saphenous (WGA) afferents, with no femoral afferents binding or transporting IB(4). Considering that the largest percentages of TRPV1-positive neurons observed in this study were within visceral and muscle afferent populations (neurons that typically are not subject to noxious temperatures), these results suggest that TRPV1 may not function primarily as a temperature sensor but rather as a detector of protons, vanilloid compounds or through interactions with other membrane proteins.     

GABAA receptors expression pattern in rat brain following low pressure distension of the stomach

It is known that gastric mechanoreceptor stimuli are widely integrated into neuronal circuits that involve visceral nuclei of hindbrain as well as several central brain areas. GABAergic neurons are widely represented in hindbrain nuclei controlling gastric motor functions, but limited information is available specifically about GABA(A)-responding neurons in brain visceral areas. The present investigation was designed to determine the central sensory neuronal pathways and their GABA(A)-alpha1 and -alpha3 receptor presenting neurons that respond to gastric mechanoreceptor stimulation within the entire rat brain. Low pressure gastric distension was used to deliver physiological mechanical stimuli in anesthetized rats, and different protocols of gastric distension were performed to mimic different stimulation patterns with and without sectioning vagal and/or splanchnic afferent nerves. Mapping of activated neurons was investigated using double colorimetric immunohistochemistry for GABA(A)-alpha1 or -alpha3 subunits and c-Fos. Following stomach distension, neurons expressing GABA(A) receptors with alpha1 or alpha3 subunits were detected. Low frequency gastric distension induced c-Fos expression in nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) only, whereas in the high frequency gastric distension c-Fos positive nuclei were found in lateral reticular nucleus and in NTS in addition to some forebrain areas. In contrast, during the tonic-rapid gastric distension the neuronal activation was found in hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain areas. Moreover different protocols of gastric stimulation activated diverse patterns of neurons presenting GABA(A)-alpha1 or -alpha3 receptors within responding brain nuclei, which may indicate a probable functional significance of differential expression of GABA(A)-responding neurons. The same protocol of gastric distension performed in vagotomized rats has confirmed the primary role of the vagus in the response of activation of gastric brain areas, whereas neuronal input of splanchnic origins was shown to play an important role in modulating the mechanogastric response of brain areas.     

日本猴椎旁交感神经节中含肽神经元的研究

本实验系应用荧光免疫组织化学的方法观察猴下位腰段椎旁交感神经节(L_(6-7))中神经肽Y,血管活性肠肽,降钙素基因相关肽,和P物质的存在、分布情况以及它们与酪氨酸羟化酶的共存关系。结果表明,大量细胞呈神经肽Y免疫反应阳性,它们在神经节周边分布更为密集。中等数量的血管活性肠肽阳性细胞和小量降钙素基因相关肽细胞散在于神经节内。在经含有Colchiciue的培养液离体孵育12h的标本上,可见中等数量的P物质免疫反应阳性细胞。根据抗酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)抗体的免疫染色结果,神经节内的神经元可分为TH~+和TH~-两群,前者占大多数。相邻切片免疫染色结果表明,几乎所有神经肽Y免疫阳性细胞同时含有TH,而所有血管活性肠肽免疫反应阳性细胞均呈酪氨酸羟化酶免疫反应阴性。神经肽Y与血管活性肠肽无共存关系。降钙素基因相关肽存在于部分血管活性肠肽免疫反应阳性细胞中,即属于VIP~+/TH~-组。从以上结果得出结论,在猴下位腰段椎旁交感神经节中,神经肽Y与血管活性肠肽分别存在于TH~+和TH~-两个细胞群。即神经肽Y存在于TH阳性神经元中,血管活性肠肽和降钙素基因相关肽则存在于TH阴性神经元中。     

Spinal projections to the dorsal column nuclei in pigeons

The dorsal column (DC) system was investigated in the pigeon by electrophysiological and anatomical methods. Field potentials recorded from the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) and evoked by electrical stimulation of cutaneous nerves showed two peaks in the case of wing nerve stimulation and one peak with leg nerve stimulation. Lesions of the DC or the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) at a high cervical level (C4) indicate that a main input exists from the wing through the DC and from the leg through the DLF. With small injections of the fluorescent dye Fast blue into parts of the DCN it could be shown that aside from a primary afferent projection a well-developed postsynaptic dorsal column system exists only for the wing and that it takes its origin in the neurons of the lamina IV of the spinal dorsal horn.     

Segmental organization of visceral and somatic input onto C3-T6 spinothalamic tract cells of the monkey.

1. Referred pain of visceral origin has three major characteristics: visceral pain is referred to somatic areas that are innervated from the same spinal segments as the diseased organ; visceral pain is referred to proximal body regions and not to distal body areas; and visceral pain is felt as deep pain and not as cutaneous pain. The neurophysiological basis for these phenomena is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the organization of viscerosomatic response characteristics of spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons in the rostral spinal cord. Interactions were determined among the following: 1) segmental location, 2) effects of input by cardiopulmonary sympathetic, greater splanchnic, lumbar sympathetic, and urinary bladder afferent fibers, 3) location of excitatory somatic field, e.g., hand, forearm, proximal arm, or chest, 4) magnitude of response to hair, skin, and deep mechanoreceptor afferent input, and 5) regional specificity of thalamic projection sites. 2. A total of 89 STT neurons in segments C3-T6 were characterized for responses to visceral and somatic stimuli. Neurons were activated antidromically from the contralateral ventroposterolateral oralis or caudalis nuclei of the thalamus. Cell responses to visceral and somatic stimuli were not different on the basis of the thalamic site of antidromic activation. Recording sites for 61 neurons were located histologically; 87% of lesion sites were located in laminae IV-VII or X. There was no relationship between response properties of the neurons and spinal laminar location. 3. Different responses to visceral stimuli were observed in three zones of the rostral spinal cord: C3-C6, C7-C8, and T1-T6. In C3-C6, urinary bladder distension (UBD) and electrical stimulation of greater splanchnic and lumbar sympathetic afferent fibers inhibited STT cells. Electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferents increased cell activity in C5 and C6 and either excited or inhibited STT cells in C3 and C4. In the cervical enlargement (C7-C8), STT cells generally were either inhibited or showed little response to stimulation of visceral afferent fibers. In T1-T6, input from greater splanchnic and cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent nerves increased activity of STT cells. Lumbar sympathetic afferent input inhibited cells in T1-T2 and had little effect on cells in T3-T6, whereas UBD decreased cell activity in all segments studied. 4. In general, stimulation of somatic structures increased activity of STT neurons in segments that received primary afferent innervation from the excitatory somatic receptive field or in the segments immediately adjacent to these segments. Only input from the forelimb, especially the hand, markedly excited cells in C7 and C8.+     

SP,CGRP,ENK样阳性纤维终末在猫骶髓后连合核内的分布特征及超微结构

本实验用免疫组化电镜技术对骶髓后连合核中SP祥、CGRP样、L-ENK样阳性终末进行了观察,结果表明:SP样阳性终末主要含圆形清亮小泡,间有少量颗粒囊泡,主要与中、小树突形成不对称型轴-树突触(93%);还可见到不对称型轴-体突触(5%);也可见到少量的轴-轴突触(2%),SP样阳性终末为突触后成分。CGRP样阳性终末以含圆形清亮小泡为主,有的终末内混有颗粒囊泡。大多数终末(89%)与树突构成轴-树突触,但以远侧树突为主;也有少数(6%)的CGRP样阳性终末与胞体形成轴-体突触;还观察到由阴性终末与CGRP样阳性终末构成的轴-轴突触。L-ENK样阳性终末以含圆形清亮小泡为主,有时可见散在的颗粒囊泡,多与中、小树突形成不对型轴-树突触(92%);也观察到轴-体突触(5%)和轴-轴突触(3%)。