GABA-ergic and substance P-ergic double-innervation to noradrenergic neurons in the rat locus coeruleus.

Synaptic contacts between noradrenaline (NA) neurons and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) afferents and/or substance P (SP) afferents in the locus coeruleus (LC) were examined by a combination of immunoelectron microscopic mirror method and double-immunostaining method. For visualization of NA and GABA, we used antibodies against NA and GABA synthesizing enzymes, i.e., tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). GAD-immunoreactive (IR) and SP-IR axon terminals often made synaptic contacts with NA neurons, respectively. Furthermore, we identified that a single NA neuron simultaneously receives synaptic inputs from GAD-IR and SP-IR afferents. These NA neurons made symmetrical synaptic contacts with GAD-IR axon terminals and asymmetrical contacts with SP-IR axon terminals. This suggests that central NA neuronal mechanisms are affected by GABA and SP neurons in a different manner.