Jeffrey P. Ellison

Histochemical demonstration of a direct pathway from the fastigial nucleus to the septal region.

Abstract A cholinergic pathway from the fastigial nucleus to the septal region (including the septal nuclei proper, base of the head of the caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens septi, and nucleus of the gyrus rectus) has been demonstrated in cats by use of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining technique of Shute and Lewis. In cats autopsied 10–30 days after creation of fastigial nucleus lesions, the AChE staining diminished in the septal region on the side of the lesion. No changes in AChE staining were noted in control cats which had lesions elsewhere in the cerebellum. The pathway demonstrated by this technique corresponds closely to the pathway from the fastigial nucleus to the septal region which was previously demonstrated by electrophysiologic and histologic techniques and suggested by clinical data.

Cryostat technique for central nervous system histofluorescence

SummaryThis paper offers a technique for obtaining monoamine histofluorescence in the CNS by means of formaldehyde perfusion followed by cryostat sectioning. No freeze-drying is involved. Cryostat sections are exposed to formaldehyde vapor to complete the fluorophore formation. The fluorescence thus obtained is bright, well localized, and does not require loading the animals with precursors. The anatomical distribution of the pathways is identical to that obtained with the classical technique. Furthermore, the fluorescence is reversible by sodium borohydride, and exhibits the expected changes in intensity with pharmacological manipulations. The sections can be exposed to a cold aqueous medium for as long as 15 min with minimal diffusion of fluorophore; this suggests potential for combining monoamine histofluorescence with other visualization techniques.