Immunolocalization of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAAT) in axon terminals that form synapses in the rat cerebellar cortex. A study at the electron microscopic level.

This study was conducted to determine the ultrastructural localization of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAAT)-like immunoreactivity in the cerebellar cortex in the rat. The isoenzyme was found both in excitatory and inhibitory axon terminals, but not in the climbing fibers of the molecular layer. These findings suggest that cAAT may have a different role in the excitatory and inhibitory synapses, and that climbing fibers of the molecular layer do not appear to use aspartate as neurotransmitter.