Laemle L K, Feldman S C
J Comp Neurol. 1985 Mar 22;233(4):452-62. doi: 10.1002/cne.902330404.
The distribution of neuronal elements containing immunoreactive somatostatin (I-SRIF) in the rat central visual pathway was examined by light-microscopic immunocytochemistry. These studies were concerned with the location and morphology of neurons and innervated cells and the distribution of fiber and terminal plexuses in the primary visual cortex (area 17), visual association areas 18 and 18a, the superior colliculus, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the pretectum. In the superior colliculus, I-SRIF-containing fibers and perikarya were distributed predominantly in the superficial, or visual, layers; these elements were moderately dense and occupied the entire mediolateral extent of these layers. In the intermediate and deep layers, immunoreactive neurons were widely scattered, and fibers were located mainly in the medial third. Immunoreactive cell populations in the superior colliculus included small bipolar neurons with fusiform perikarya and multipolar neurons with round to ovoid perikarya. In the pretectum, the peptide was demonstrable in large and small multipolar neurons of the nucleus of the optic tract and in the posterior and olivary pretectal nuclei. I-SRIF-containing neurons were also present in the nucleus of the posterior commissure, the nucleus of Edinger-Westphal, and the ventral division of the lateral geniculate nucleus. In the visual cortex, the peptide was present in all layers and in a variety of morphologically defined cell populations, including some which are presumed excitatory (pyramidal and bipolar cells) and others which are presumed inhibitory (bitufted and stellate cells). Our data suggest that somatostatin is involved in visual and visuomotor reflex pathways and in the horizontal optokinetic nystagmus reflex pathway. These results provide a foundation for further studies to evaluate the role of this peptide in visual processes.
采用光镜免疫细胞化学方法研究了大鼠中枢视觉通路中含免疫反应性生长抑素（I-SRIF）的神经元成分分布。这些研究涉及神经元和受支配细胞的位置及形态，以及初级视皮层（17区）、视觉联合区18和18a、上丘、外侧膝状体核和顶盖前区中纤维和终末丛的分布。在上丘，含I-SRIF的纤维和核周体主要分布在表层或视觉层；这些成分密度适中，占据这些层的整个内外侧范围。在中间层和深层，免疫反应性神经元广泛散布，纤维主要位于内侧三分之一处。上丘中的免疫反应性细胞群体包括具有梭形核周体的小型双极神经元和具有圆形至卵圆形核周体的多极神经元。在顶盖前区，该肽在视束核的大小多极神经元以及后顶盖前核和橄榄顶盖前核中均可显示。含I-SRIF的神经元也存在于后连合核、动眼神经核和外侧膝状体核的腹侧部。在视皮层中，该肽存在于所有层以及各种形态学定义的细胞群体中，包括一些推测为兴奋性的细胞（锥体细胞和双极细胞）以及其他推测为抑制性的细胞（双簇状细胞和星形细胞）。我们的数据表明，生长抑素参与视觉和视运动反射通路以及水平视动性眼球震颤反射通路。这些结果为进一步研究该肽在视觉过程中的作用提供了基础。
