Mjaatvedt A E, Wong-Riley M T
Brain Res. 1986 Mar 12;368(1):178-82. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(86)91059-0.
In this study, we have demonstrated the co-localization of a retrograde tracer and the reaction product of an oxidative enzyme within the same neurons in the same spinal cord section, using [3H] wheat germ agglutinin and cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. This approach allows unequivocal identification of the alpha-motoneurons innervating specific muscles. We have determined that there is a positive correlation between the distribution of cytochrome oxidase reactivity in alpha-motoneurons and the muscles that they innervate. The degree of cytochrome oxidase reactivity within the labeled alpha-motoneurons appears to be independent of spinal cord level and cell size.