Dense cored vesicles in presynaptic profiles of the rabbit dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

Abstract

We are carrying out a study about the synaptic relations between identified synaptic profiles in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the rabbit. Here. the types of synaptic vesicle containing profiles of the dLGN are described. There are presynaptic large profiles containing round vesicles and pale mitochondria (RLP terminals) and small profiles that contain round vesicles and dark mitochondria (RSD termiilals) which respectively arise from the retina and the visual cortes. Another type of presynaptic profile contains elliptical vesicles (F-boutons) which can be subdivided according to their cytoplasmic content. These F-boutons arise from dLGN interneurons. We have found different sized vesicles that have a dense core within RLP, and F terminals rind a possible RSD terminal. The significance of the coesistance of pale and dense cored vesicles in the presynaptic profiles of the rabbit dLGN is discussed.