Ultrastructure of transganglionic HRP transport in cat trigeminal system.

The ultrastructure of transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from the inferior alveolar (IA) nerve to the brainstem is being studied in the cat. The IA nerve was soaked in an HRP solution and following a two-day survival the animal was perfused transcardially with a paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde solution. The tissue was immediately dissected and postfixed for 1-3 h in perfusate. Sections of 75 micron thickness were cut with a Vibratome and reacted utilizing tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) as the chromagen. Optimum results for electron microscopy were obtained by osmication in a pH 6.0, 1% osmium tetroxide solution for 45 min at 45 degrees C, followed by rapid dehydration and embedment in Epon. The resulting HRP-TMB reaction product was characterized and identified ultrastructurally in ganglion cells, peripheral and central axons and in brainstem terminals. The HRP-TMB reaction product varied in density but had consistent crystalline-like laminations of a repeating unit and characterized by a membrane 4-5 nm in diameter. Some of the HRP-TMB reaction product found in terminals and axons was below the limit of resolution of the light microscope.