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Our intention in the present study was to ascertain whether NO-producing cells in the basolateral complex (BLC) and paracapsular intercalated nerve cell groups (Ip) of the amygdala are activated in the open field (OF) test. The material consisted of 8 adult rat brains. The OF test was applied throughout 10 min and 90 min before the death of the animals. The brain sections were double stained using the antibodies against c-Fos (marker of neuronal activation) and against nitric oxide synthase (NOS -- marker of NO-producing cells). The neurons containing NOS and those revealing c-Fos activity constituted distinct populations within both the BLC and Ip but NOS-immunoreactive fibres often surrounded the c-Fos-immunoreactive neurons. Our results suggest that (1) neurons of the basolateral complex of the amygdala and paracapsular intercalated islands are involved but probably not crucial for the open field stress response and (2) NOS-immunoreactive cells in the BLC and Ip are not activated after OF exposure.

The endopiriform nucleus, further divided into dorsal and ventral parts, and the neighbouring pre-endopiriform (pEn) nucleus form a region of highly heterogeneous structure involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Nonpyramidal neurons of this region containing three neuropeptides-somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-were examined in this study. Their colocalization with three calcium-binding proteins-parvalbumin (PV), calbindin D28k (CB), calretinin (CR), and with nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was investigated by qualitative and quantitative methods. The results are summarized as follows: (1) all studied substances are distributed in neurons of the entire region, (2) SOM-ir neurons constitute the most numerous neuropeptide-containing population, whereas NOS-ir neurons make up the largest population of all studied, (3) colocalizations are found in the endopiriform region (Enr) (SOM with CB, PV and NOS; VIP with CR; NPY with NOS and NOS with CR), (4) heterogeneity of the endopiriform region appears in the differences of cells' shape distributions of single-labeled (SOM-, CR-PV-ir) and double-labeled (SOM/CB-, SOM/PV-, NPY/NOS- and NOS/CR-ir) neurons, as well as in differentiated percentage values of SOM/NOS, NPY/NOS and VIP/CR double-labeled neurons in three studied parts; additionally, differences in distribution of immunoreactive neuropil elements between parts of the region are observed. Numerous regional differences concerning neuronal morphology and immunocytochemical characteristics justify further division of the endopiriform region into distinguished parts. Some immunocytochemical features of the neurons in studied region may contribute to the role in epileptogenesis.

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a heterogeneous group of dopaminergic cells which contains interfascicular (IF), parabrachial (PBP) and rostral linear (RLi) nuclei. Neurons of this area are involved in the regulation of motor and motivational aspects of behavior and reveal high neuronal plasticity. Among many various neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, nitric oxide (NO) is localized in this region. In the present study, we investigated morphology and distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-positive neurons in VTA and their colocalization with dopaminergic neurons. The study was performed on six adult Wistar rats. After perfusional fixation, the brains were cut, immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and NOS and studied by confocal laser microscopy. In each of the three studied nuclei of VTA we investigated three different neuronal populations. Numerous TH-immunoreactive (TH-ir) and NOS-immunoreactive (NOS-ir) neurons are present in the studied region. Among them, a considerable number showed coexistence of both neurotransmitters. The populations of TH-ir and NOS-ir neurons interact with each other as manifested by the presence of NOS-ir endings on TH-ir neurons and vice versa. Taking the above into account, it may be suspected that NO is involved in the modulation of dopaminergic transmission.

The morphological features of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing neurons in the rat claustrum (Cl) were studied during the period of four months after birth. Forty-five animals divided into nine groups, according to survival period (P0, P4, P7, P10, P14, P21, P28, P60, P120) were used in the study. The immunocytochemical staining to neuronal NOS was performed and the material was studied both qualitatively and quantitatively using unbiased stereological methods. Our observations indicate that the process of maturation of NOS-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in Cl takes place during the early postnatal period. We report the increase of numerical density of immunoreactive neurons, changes in neuronal size, expressed by the decrease of the percentage of small neurons with simultaneous increase of the participation of medium-sized neurons and large neurons. In the whole studied period the prevalence of oval and fusiform neurons is observed. However, the increase of the proportion of multipolar neurons takes place. Round neurons are most characteristic in the youngest groups of animals and later become dominated by the developing subpopulations of ir neurons of other shapes. In the anterior, central and posterior parts of Cl, a similar pattern of maturation of NOS-ir neurons is observed. No prevalence of characteristically shaped neurons is observed in any part of Cl. The adult-like pattern of morphological features in the NOS-ir neuronal population in Cl is reached in the third postnatal week. The maturation of NOS-ir neurons in the claustrum is a dynamic process which is not stabilised at the moment of birth. It may be assumed that characteristic changes of the NOS-ir population of neurons may be influential on the physiological processes observed in Cl. These may in particular have some importance for the processes of synaptogenesis and establishing as well as refining of numerous claustral connections with the other structures of the central nervous system.

An immunocytochemical double-staining method was applied in order to study the co-localisation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with three calcium-binding proteins, calbindin D28k (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the claustrum of the rat during the first 4 months of life (postnatal days: PO-P120). The co-localisation of NOS/PV and NOS/CB is reported. These neurons fall into the category of non-pyramidal cells. Double-labelled NOS/CB neurons are observed in the claustrum starting from P4, whereas double-labelled NOS/PV neurons are observed from P14 onwards. The percentages of double-labelled neurons increase in relation to the age. Double-labelled NOS/CB and NOS/PV neurons, although they do not constitute a numerous population, play an important role in the process of maturation of the claustrum. This is confirmed by the occurrence of these types of neurons at definite stages of maturation and by the increase in their number.