• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the main sensory trigeminal nucleus in the aging rat brain by means of electron microscope. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, two (control group) and thirty six (aging group) months of age, were used. These animals were sacrificed by perfusion fixation with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-2.0% paraformaldehyde (0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) under sodium pentobarbital. The objective area was punched out with a sharp-edged metal cylinder of 0.8 mm in diameter. These blocks of tissue were then washed in 0.1M phosphate buffer, postfixed in 2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in a graded series of ethyl alcohol, and embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were cut with Super Nova ultramicrotome, pick up on grids and double stained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate, and observed in JEOL 100B electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the control group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus was filled with nucleus, Golgi complex, Nissl substance, mitochondria, microfilaments and microtubules. However, few Nissl substances are seen in neuronal cell body. Axoaxonic synapse, axodendritic synapse, axosomatic synapse, axospinous synapse, myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers were well organized around cell bodies. Neurons with abnormal changes were not seen. 2. In the aging group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus contained large number of lipofuscin granules, dense body and swollen mitochondria. Terminal boutons contained glycogen, crystal-like vesicle and membranous indicating first signs of degeneration. The dendrites were found to be in synaptic contact with altered axon terminals. Frequently axons filled with dark axoplasn and splitted myelin sheath were noticed.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.423-431
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• 1995

Trigeminal spinal sensory nucleus is a main relay site in transmission of orofacial pain. Glutamate and aspartate playa role in transmission of primary afferents. This experiment was performed to study the role of capsaicin, KR-25018 and shogaol on the release of glutamate and aspartate from trigeminal spinal sensory nucleus. Release of excitatory amino acids(EAAs) was induced by electrical stimulation of oral mucosa with innocuous or noxious stimuli. Capsaicin($10{\mu}M$), KR-25018($10{\mu}M$), shogaol($10{\mu}M$), ruthenium red and capsazapine were added to perfusion solution to observe the changes in EAA release, and glutamate and aspartate were determined by HPLC. Release of glutamate and aspartate from trigeminal sensory nucleus was increased by noxious stimulation of oral mucosa, but innocuous stimulation did not affect on the release of EAA Capsaicin and KR-25018 increased the release of glutamate and aspartate, and effect of KR-25018 on release of EAA was more potent than capsaicin. But shogaol had a weak effect on release of EAA. Effect of capsaicin and KR-25018 was partially blocked by capsaicin antagonists, ruthenium red and capsazepine.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.321-347
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• 1994

Muscle spindle afferents from masseter muscle were labelled by the intra-axonal HRP injection and were processed for light microscopic reconstruction. Regions containing terminal arbors scattered in the central portion of the masseteric motor neuron pool (type I a) and those restricted to 2-3 small portion of it (type II) were selected and processed for electronmicroscopic analysis with serial sections. The shape of the labelled boutons was dome or elongated shape. Scalloped or glomerulus shape with peripherial indentation containing pre or postsynaptic neuronal propiles, which is occasionally found in the trigeminal main sensory nucleus and spinal dorsal horn, was not observed. Both type Ia and type II boutons had pale axoplasm and contained clear, spherical vesicles of uniform size(dia : 49-52nm) and occasionally large dense cored vesicles(dia : 87-118nm). The synaptic vesicles were evenly distributed throughout the boutons although there was a slight tendency of vesicles to accumulate at the presynaptic site. The average of short and long diameter(short D. + long D./2) of type I a bouton was smaller than that of type II bouton. All the labelled boutons, which showed prominent postsynaptic density, large synaptic area and multiple synaptic contact, made asymmetrical synaptic contact with postsynaptic neuronal propiles. Most of the type Ia and type II boutons made synaptic contact with only one neuronal propile and boutons which shows synaptic contact or more neuronal propiles was not observed. Most of the type Ia boutons(87.2%) were presynaptic to the soma or proximal dendrite and a few remainder(12.8%) made synaptic contact with dendritic shaft or distal dendrite. In contrast, majority of type II boutons showed synaptic contact with dendritic shaft and remainder with soma or proximal dendrite. In conclusion, terminal boutons which participate in the excitatory monosynaptic jaw jerk reflex made synaptic contact with more proximal region of the neuron, and showed very simple synaptic connection, compared with those from the primary afferenst in the other region of the central nervous system such as spinal dorsal horn and trigeminal main sensory nucleus which assumed to be responsible for the mediating pain, tactile sensation, sensory processing or sensory discrimination.