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Neuroscience Bulletin logoLink to Neuroscience Bulletin
. 2008 Feb 3;23(3):175–179. doi: 10.1007/s12264-007-0026-x

Localization of vesicular glutamate transporters in the peripheral vestibular system of rat

囊泡膜谷氨酸转运体在前庭外周系统中的分布

Yuan Wang 1,2, You-Wang Pang 1,3, Yu-Lin Dong 1, Fu-Xing Zhang 1,, Jin-Lian Li 1, Yun-Qing Li 1
PMCID: PMC5550633  PMID: 17612597

Abstract

Objective

To examine the vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluTs: VGluT1-VGluT3) in the peripheral vestibular system.

Methods

The vestibular structures, including Scarpa’s ganglion (vestibular ganglion, VG), maculae of utricle and saccule, and ampullary cristae, from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were processed immunohistochemically for VGluTs, by avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method, with 3-3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) as chromogen.

Results

(1) VGluT1 was localized to partial neurons of VG and to the putative primary afferent fibers innervating vestibular end-organs. (2) Intense VGluT3 immunoreactivity was detected in large number of sensory epithelia cells, and weak labeling of VGluT3-positive afferent fibers was in the maculae and ampullary cristae. (3) No or very weak VGluT2 immunoreactivity was observed in the VG and acoustic maculae.

Conclusion

These results provide the morphological support that glutamate exists in the peripheral vestibular system, and it may play an important role in the centripetal vestibular transmission.

Keywords: vesicular glutamate transporter, acoustic maculae, Scarpa’s ganglion, immunohistochemistry, rat

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