The discrimination of nine different types of synaptic boutons in the fundus striati (Nucleus accumbens septi)

Abstract

An attempt has been made to discriminate additional types of synapses than have been previously described in the nucleus accumbens septi of the cat, which can, according to Brockhaus (1942), justifiably be termed the fundus striati due to the fact that it possesses all of the morphological and some of the neurochemical features of the striatum. This was undertaken in order to correlate at least one type of synapse with each different afferent pathway. Nine distinct types of synapses could be differentiated electron microscopically: Type I: axo-spinous synapses with sparse, small, round vesicles which seemed to be the nigro-striatal endings (35%). Type II: axo-somatic or axo-dendritic en passant synapses containing small, round vesicles (3%). Type III: axo-spinous synapses filled with densely-packed, small, round vesicles displaying strong postsynaptic thickenings which seem to be cortico-striatal (17%). Type IV: large axo-spinous synapses with densely-arranged, small, round vesicles contacting larger spines branching off a pedicle (9%). Type V: axo-somatic or axo-dendritic synapses containing large pleomorphic vesicles, probably axon collaterals (1%). Type VI: axo-somatic or axo-dendritic synapses with elongated small vesicles (20 X 45 nm) (3%). Type VII: large axo-somatic or axo-dendritic synapses filled by densely-packed, small, round vesicles (11%). Type VIII: large axo-somatic or axo-dendritic synapses containing loosely-arranged, small, round vesicles (8%). Type IX: axo-somatic or axo-dendritic synapses containing large, round vesicles in a translucent axoplasm (13%).