GABA- and glycine-immunoreactive neurons in the spinal cord of the carp, Cyprinus carpio.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine are the two main inhibitory transmitter amino acids in the central nervous system of vertebrates. The distribution of cells containing GABA and glycine in the carp spinal cord was examined by using specific antisera raised against the two amino acids conjugated to bovine serum albumin. The immunoreaction on serial paraffin sections was visualized by a streptavidin-biotin method. Both antisera gave highly specific labelings of cells. At least three types of GABA-immunoreactive cells were found. They were small cells in the dorsal grey matter, various sized cells in the central and ventral grey, and some ependymal cells contacting the central canal. In addition, very small cells and neuropil structures in the dorsal horn were strongly immunoreactive to the GABA serum. Certain cells in the ventral horn have moderate numbers of labelled synaptic boutons on the perikarya, but very few GABA-labelled terminals were found on putative motoneurons. The immunoreactive ependymal cells appeared to have a ventrolaterally directed axon. The glycine antiserum labelled small and intermediate cells in the dorsal grey, large, elongated cells in the median region, and varying sized cells in the ventral grey. The numbers and density of immunoreactive cells and neuropil structures in the ventral horn were fewer and lower than in GABA-stained sections. The median large cells had a thick ventrolateral process. The ventral intermediate cells were often found near putative motoneurons. Labelled synaptic boutons were present on most ventral cells including putative motoneurons and interneurons. Abundant distribution of cells immunoreactive to both antisera suggest important roles of both GABA and glycine as neurotransmitters for controlling swimming movements in teleosts.