电刺激大鼠苍白球对黑质I型神经元的影响

采用细胞外记录方法,分别观察了黑质（ＳＮ）Ｉ型神经元对刺激苍白球（ＧＰ）内侧部及外侧部的反应。实验共记录了９６个Ｉ型神经元。刺激ＧＰ的内侧部,有５７个（５９．３８％）神经元顺行抑制。刺激ＧＰ的外侧部,有８６个（８９．５８％）神经元被顺行抑制;２个（２．０８％）被逆行激活,被逆行激活的神经元产生的诱发电位潜伏期恒定且短（分别为８．０和８．５ｍｓ）。被顺行抑制的神经元中,有的产生抑制、兴奋交替出现的振     

新生大鼠脊髓薄片中的运动神经元对腹外侧索刺激的反应

在新生大鼠脊髓薄片细胞内记录了２５个经送行刺激鉴定的运动神经元（ＭＮ）,发现腹外侧索刺激可在８０％的ＭＮ诱发去极化反应（ＥＰＳＰ）。在静息电位水平ＥＰＳＰ的潜伏期、达峰时间、幅度、半衰时间和时程分别为１．２±０．２ｍｓ,２．６±０．４ｍｓ,１３±３ｍＶ,５．３±１．６ｍｓ和３１±８ｍｓ。ＥＰＳＰ呈等级性和膜电位依赖性,平均翻转电位为－８ｍＶ,潜伏期在０．—５Ｈｚ频率的刺激时相对恒定,但刺激频率＞２０Ｈｚ时ＥＰＳＰ变小或被取消。ＥＰＳＰ在低钙高镁溶液中被阻抑叵在无镁溶液中增强。犬尿烯酸（０．５—１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可逆地阻断ＥＰＳＰ,但氯胺酮（５０—１００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）仅部分抑制之。结果表明腹外侧索中的下行纤维可能释放兴奋性氨基酸而激活ＭＮ。     

大鼠中缝隐核增强dPAG诱导的vPAG的c－Fos表达及对vPAG神经元放电的影响

本实验通过Ｐｏｓ免疫细胞化学、电生理及微量注射法对中缝隐核（ＮＲＯ）的交感抑制作用的相关途径进行探讨。实验在成巴比妥钠或α－氯醛糖和氨基甲酸乙脂麻醉的Ｓｐｒａｇｕｅ－Ｄａｗｌｅｙ（ＳＤ）大鼠上进行。同时予以ＮＲＯ,中脑导水管周围灰质背侧部（ｄＰＡＧ）方波脉冲串刺激,诱导中脑和延髓的ｃ－Ｆｏｓ表达。刺激ＮＲＯ过程中,基础血压升高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,刺激ｄＰＡＧ引起的防御性升压反应则减少（Ｐ＜０．０１）;中脑导水管周围灰质腹侧部（ｖＰＡＧ）、巨细胞旁外侧核（ＰＧＬ）的Ｆｏｓ样免疫阳性反应（ＦＬＩ）细胞计数分别为６６．５±８．３和１０．８±１．５（刺激ＮＲＯ＋ｄＰＡＧ组）,较单独刺激ｄＰＡＧ组明显增加,Ｐ值分别小于０．０１和０．００１;单或双脉冲刺激中缝隐核在ｖＰＡＧ可以记录到相关单位,其中８４％为兴奋单位,抑制单位占１６％。双侧ｖＰＡＧ内微量注射利多卡因（每侧２μｇ／０．１μｌ）,基础血压无明显变化,而刺激ＮＲＯ引起的降压反应幅度减小（Ｐ＜０．０１）,提示,延髓腹外侧区（ＶＬＭ）、ＮＲＯ存在不同功能分化的神经元;ＮＲＯ可能有向ｖＰＡＧ的兴奋性投射,此投射可加强ＮＲＯ的交感抑制效应。     

家兔腓肠肌肌构筑及肌纤维型的实验研究

根据家兔（Ｏｒｙｃｔｏｌａｇｕｓｃｕｎｉｃｕｌｕｓｄｏｍｅｓｔｉｃａ）腓肠肌的肌构筑和神经供应特征,将该肌外侧头分为内侧、中间、外侧３个亚体,内侧头无肌亚体。用家兔８例１６侧腓肠肌,按上述３个亚体及内侧头分别取材,做冰冻横切片,肌动球朊ＡＴＰ酶染色,将肌纤维分为ＳＯ型、ＦＯＧ型和ＦＧ型。检测各亚体的肌纤维型构成比率,并以图象分析仪测量３型肌纤维的直径和横切面积。结果发现：ＳＯ型纤维在内侧头占１６．７％,在外侧头由内侧亚体的１１．３％向外侧亚体的２０．８％依次递增;ＦＯＧ型纤维由内侧亚体的２３．２％向外侧亚体的３０．９％递增。ＦＧ型纤维则从内侧亚体的６５．５％向外侧亚体的４８．３％逐渐递减。３型肌纤维成点缀式镶嵌型分布。各亚体中ＳＯ型纤维最细（５７．４—５８．２μｍ）,ＦＯＧ型纤维稍粗（６０．１—６１．１μｍ）,ＦＧ型纤维最粗（６３．６—６４．５μｍ）。     

大鼠中脑、内脏和躯体传入在旁巨细胞外侧核神经元的聚合

用细胞外记录的方法观察大鼠巨细胞旁外侧核（ＰＧＬ）对刺激中脑导水管周围背侧部（ｄＰＡＧ）及腹外侧部（ｖＰＡＧ）、腓深神经（ＤＰＮ）、正中神经（ＭＮ）和内脏大神经（ＧＳＰＬ）的反应。这些神经元不仅对某一处刺激部位起反应,而且倾向于对其它任一刺激部位也起反应。８９％（７３／８２）的神经元接受两处或两处以上来源的汇聚投射。６０％（２１／３５）的神经元由于具有压力敏感性,并且其下行投射到脊髓的轴突具有慢的     

大鼠延髓网状背侧亚核内5-羟色胺能、P物质样和脑啡肽样阳性终末的中枢起源

研究用荧光金（ＦＧ）逆行追踪与免疫荧光组化染色相结合的双标技术对大鼠脑干向延髓网状背侧亚核（ＳＲＤ）的５┐羟色胺（５┐ＨＴ）能、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）能和亮氨酸┐脑啡肽（Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ）能投射进行了观察。将ＦＧ注入ＳＲＤ后,ＦＧ逆标神经元主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇（中缝背核、中缝正中核、中缝桥核、中缝大核、中缝隐核和中缝苍白核）、巨细胞网状核α部、延髓网状结构的内侧部和外侧部、延髓外侧网状核、三叉神经脊束核尾侧亚核和孤束核。５┐羟色胺（５┐ＨＴ）样、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）样和亮氨酸脑啡肽（Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ）样阳性神经元主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部;此外,ＳＰ样和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性神经元还见于臂旁核、背外侧被盖核和孤束核。ＦＧ逆标并呈５┐ＨＴ样、ＳＰ样或Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性的双标神经元也主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部,尤其是位于延髓中缝核团内的双标神经元数量较多。本研究的结果说明ＳＲＤ内的５┐ＨＴ样、ＳＰ样和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性终末主要来自中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部,向ＳＲＤ发出５┐ＨＴ能、ＳＰ能和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ能投射的上述核团对ＳＲＤ发挥“弥漫性伤害抑     

控制蟾蜍舌肌运动神经元的视顶盖神经元的分布和形态

本实验把辣根过氧化物酶（ＨＲＰ）注射到蟾蜍舌下神经核背内侧核（ｄｏｒｓｏｍｅｄｉａｌｎ．ＸＩＩ,ＤＭＮ）和视顶盖（ＯＴ）,利用逆行和顺行标记技术,研究了控制舌肌运动神经元活动的视顶盖神经元的分布和形态。结果表明,视顶盖神经元直接控制舌肌运动神经元,它们主要分布在视顶盖的腹外侧部。这些神经元在形态上可分为三大类：梨形神经元、锥形神经元和神经节神经元,与Ｇｏｌｇｉ浸染法描述的两栖类视顶盖细胞类型相似。这表明视顶盖虽有功能分区,但很难在细胞形态与其生理性质之间建立联系。     

P物质对GABAA和GABAB受体介导的DRG神经元膜反应的调制作用

实验在幼年大鼠ＤＲＧ标本上进行。应用细胞内记录观察了ＳＰ对ＧＡＢＡ反应的调制作用。结果证明：（１）单独滴加ＳＰ（５×１０（－６）－４×１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）或浴槽灌流ＳＰ（１０（－６）－５×１０（－６）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）不引起膜电位的改变或仅有轻微的去极化,但却能使ＧＡＢＡ引起的去极化反应减小５０．８±２０．２％（±ＳＤ）（２０／３０）;（２）单独滴加ＳＰ可使多数受检细胞ＡＰＤ５０延长２８．７±９．１％（±ＳＤ）（１０／１８）;（３）在预加ＳＰ后,能使ｂａｃｌｏｆｅｎ所引起的ＡＰＤ５０缩短效应（２０．６±２．９％,±ＳＤ）完全消除（４／１２）或翻转成ＡＰＤ（５０）延长１９．３±８．９％（±ＳＤ）（８／１２）;（４）预加ＧＡＢＡＢ受体激动剂ｂａｃｌｏｆｅｎ（１０（－４）－１０（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）３０—９０ｓ后明显地抑制ｍｕｓｃｉｍｏｌ（１０－４－１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）引起的去极化反应,其抑制效应达５４．４±１８．８％（±ＳＤ）（１７／２０）。由于ＤＲＧ神经元的胞体通常可用来作为研究初级传入终末的模型,因而本文实验结果提示：介导伤害性刺激信息的Ｐ物质在背角的释放,可能作用于初级传入终末,从而产生对抗ＧＡＢＡ介导的突触     

小麦根质膜原位膜微囊与翻转膜微囊的氧化还原特性比较

用二相法和不连续蔗糖梯度离心分别制得小麦根质膜的原位膜微囊和翻转膜微囊。两者比较可知：质膜内外两侧均表现出较高的氧化还原活性;膜内侧的ＮＡＤ（Ｐ）Ｈ氧化和Ｆｅ（ＣＮ）还原速率高于外侧。质膜内外两侧都能还原ＥＤＴＡ－Ｆｅ３＋,但外侧的还原活性高于内侧。质膜内外两侧均有Ｏ２吸收,同时都可被ＳＨＡＭ刺激,被ＫＣＮ抑制。质膜内侧和外侧都可产生,最适ＰＨ值为６．０;既可被ＳＨＡＭ刺激,也可被ＳＯＤ、过氧化氢酶和ＫＣＮ抑制。     

PAF对肺内小动脉平滑肌细胞TXA_2，PGI_2乃Ca~（2＋）－ATPase的影响

本工作采用分离培养家兔肺内小动脉平滑肌细胞（ＰＡＳＭＣｓ），观察了外源性血小板活化因子（ｐｌａｔｅｌｅｔａｃｔｉｖａｔｉｎｇｆａｃｔｏｒ，ＰＡＦ）、ＢＮ５２０２１（ＰＡＦ受体拮抗剂）、吲哚美辛、维拉帕米对ＰＡＳＭＣｓ产生血栓素Ａ_２（ＴｘＡ_２）、前列环素（ＰＧＩ_２）及对细胞膜Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活力的影响。结果表明：（１）基础状态下ＰＡＳＭＣｓ存在花生四烯酸（ＡＡ）代谢。（２）外源性ＰＡＦ通过受体后途径激活环加氧酶促进ＡＡ代谢致ＴＸＡ_２及ＰＧＩ－２增加，ＴＸＡ_２／ＰＧＩ_２比值无明显变化。（３）外源性ＰＡＦ能直接抑制Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活力。（４）维拉帕米可逆转ＰＡＦ抑制ＰＡＳＭＣｓ膜Ｃａ~（２＋）－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活力的效应。     

电刺激蝙蝠中脑上丘对下丘听神经元电活动的影响

实验在24只鲁氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophus rouxi)上进行.使用玻璃微电极在中脑下丘中央核记录听神经元电反应.刺激点位于上丘核.共观察了294个对超声刺激产生反应的下丘听单位.当电刺激上丘时,有122个听单位的反应受到影响,占所观察总数的41.5%.其中96个单位表现为抑制性影响(占32.65%),26个单位表现为易代性效应(占8.84%).其余172个单位不受上丘刺激的影响(58.50%).实验中发现,上述抑制潜伏期一般在5毫秒以上,抑制时程较长.抑制程度与上丘刺激电流强度呈相关关系(r=0.99).实验中还发现,刺激上丘同样可抑制部分下丘神经元的自发放电活动,其抑制后效应相当长,有的可达120毫秒以上.     

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE IN THE SUBSTANTIA NIGRA AND CAUDATE-PUTAMEN OF THE RAT: PROPERTIES AND LOCALIZATION IN DOPAMINERGIC NEURONS

Abstract— In order to examine the hypothesis that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is contained within dopaminergic neurons of the nigro-striatal projection, the effects of selective destruction of these neurons by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on cholinesterase, tyrosine hydroxylase, and choline acetyltransferase in substantia nigra (SN) and caudate-putamen (CP) were studied in the rat. Four to five weeks after intraventricular or intracerebral 6-OHDA injections tyrosine hydroxylase in these structures was reduced by 90% or more. Choline acetyltransferase was not affected in the SN or CP, but cholinesterase was reduced by about 40% in the SN and by 12% in the CP. To determine that the observed decreases in cholinesterase activity reflected true AChE and not butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), further experiments were conducted on tissues from animals with intracerebral 6-OHDA lesions. (1) Substrate specificity. Acetylcholine (ACh) was replaced by either acetyl-β-methyl-choline (AcβMeCh) or butyrylcholine (BCh) in the cholinesterase assay. SN and CP from 6-OHDA lesioned rats showed 54% and 92% of control tissue cholinesterase activity respectively with AcβMeCh as substrate, in good agreement with values found using ACh. No decrease in activity toward BCh was observed. (2) Kinetics. The decrease in cholinesterase activities at different concentrations of ACh was determined. Analysis of the data revealed that cholinesterase in dopaminergic neurons was inhibited by high ACh concentrations, a characteristic property of AChE but not BChE. (3) Selective inhibitors. In the SN, cholinesterase in dopaminergic neurons was inhibited by the selective AChE inhibitors BW284C51 and ambenonium with a dose-response curve similar to erythrocyte AChE but different from serum BChE. The selective BChE inhibitor, tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide, inhibited the enzyme in dopaminergic neurons only at concentrations which inhibited erythrocyte AChE, concentrations somewhat higher than those which inhibited serum BChE. These results support recent histochemical observations indicating that AChE is contained in dopaminergic neurons of the SN. Moreover, these experiments represent the first characterization of AChE from a homogeneous population of non-cholinergic neurons in mammalian CNS.     

刺激大鼠下丘脑室旁核激活的中脑中央灰质神经元对躯体传入的反应

电刺激大鼠下丘脑室旁核(PVH),在同侧中脑中央灰质(CG)内寻找逆行及顺行反应单位,然后观察它们对躯体感觉刺激的反应。实验结果表明:CG 及邻近网状结构内有10%(32/318)的单位呈逆行反应。逆行传导速度平均为0.37±0.24m/s(均数±标准差);推测这种CG→PVH 投射纤维属于细有髓或无髓神经纤维。这些单位分布于 CG 的腹外侧及背外侧亚核。50%(14/28)的逆行单位对坐骨(胫)神经的强电刺激和夹尾等损伤性刺激起反应,但对触毛或低强度的神经干刺激无明显反应。以上结果表明:外周躯体感觉,特别是损伤性信息传入 PVH 时,CG 是其中枢驿站之一。电刺激 PVH 还能顺行激活7.55(24/318)、抑制0.7%(2/318)的 CG 单位。有69%(18/26)的顺行反应单位对外周躯体神经强电刺激及夹尾起反应。提示 PVH 可能通过影响 CG神经元的活动而参与中枢痛觉的整合。     

豚鼠腹腔神经节迟慢兴奋性突触后电位与5－HT和P物质的关系

应用细胞内记录,研究了豚鼠腹腔神经节（ＣＧ）细胞非胆碱能迟慢兴奋性突触后电位（ＬＳ－ＥＰＳＰ）与５－羟色胺（５－ＨＴ）及Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）的相互关系。当重复电刺激内脏大神经（ＳＮ）时,有７８．２％的细胞（１６１／２０６）在动作电位发放后出现ＬＳ－ＥＰＳＰ,灌注或压力注射５－ＨＴ或ＳＰ,分别在６８．５％的细胞（１０２／１４９）及５２．１％的细胞（９８／１８８）上引起５－ＨＴ或ＳＰ去极化反应,两者差异非常显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）;大部分具有ＬＳ－ＥＰＳＰ的细胞对５－ＨＴ（７３／８８,８３．０％）或ＳＰ（６８／１１４５９．６％）敏感,而不出现ＬＳ－ＥＰＳＰ的细胞仅有少数对５－ＨＴ（１０／２６,３８．５％）或ＳＰ（１１／３６,３０．６％）敏感,两类细胞的差异非常显著（５－ＨＴ：Ｐ＜０．０００１,ＳＰ：Ｐ＜０．０１）。上述结果支持５－ＨＴ与ＳＰ均作为递质参与ＬＳ－ＥＰＳＰ形成的观点。此外,在１３３个细胞上同时检测了５－ＨＴ与ＳＰ的作用,其中有６６个细胞（４９．６％）对５－ＨＴ及ＳＰ均敏感,提示在ＣＧ细胞,５－ＨＴ与ＳＰ之间可能存在某种机能联系。     

Sensitivity and selectivity of neurons in the medial region of the olfactory bulb to skin extract from conspecifics in crucian carp,Carassius carassius

To examine the functional subdivision of the teleost olfactory bulb, extracellular recordings were made from the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb in the crucian carp, Carassius carassius. Bulbar units classified as type I or type II were frequently and simultaneously encountered at a recording site. Type I units displayed a diphasic action potential (AP) with a relatively small amplitude, a short duration (rise time approximately 1 ms) and high spontaneous activity (2.5 per s). Type II units exhibited an AP with a rise time of approximately 1.8 ms and low spontaneous activity (1.5 per s). The AP of this latter unit was nearly always followed by a slow potential, a characteristic diphasic wave with a rise time of approximately 5 ms. Chemical stimulation of the olfactory organ with a graded series of conspecific skin extract induced an increased firing of the type I units. During the period of increased activity of the type I units, the activity of the type II units was suppressed. Stimulation with nucleotides, amino acids and taurolithocholic acid did not induce firing of the type I units of the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb. These results indicate that the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb is both sensitive to and selective for skin extract from conspecifics, which has been shown to be a potent stimulus inducing alarm behaviour. The results of the present study indicate that recording single unit activity from a particular region of the olfactory bulb is a suitable method for isolating pheromones or other chemical signals that induce specific activity in the olfactory system. The projection of the neurons categorized as type II was determined by antidromic activation of their axons by electrical stimulation applied to the medial bundle of the medial olfactory tract. The anatomical basis of the type I and type II units in the fish olfactory bulb is discussed.     

电刺激蝙蝠小脑对中脑上丘神经元听反应的影响

实验在２３只成年中华鼠耳蝠（Ｍｙｏｌｉｓｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）上进行。使用常规电生理学方法,观察了电刺激小脑对上丘神经元听反应的影响。在所观察的１７１个上丘神经元中,有１１６个（占６７．８４％）神经元听反应受到影响,其中７２个（占４２．１１％）表现为抑制效应,４４个（占２５．７３％）为易化效应。刺激小脑对上丘神经听反应的影响是双侧的。抑制或易化程度与电刺激强度、声刺激强度以及声、电刺激间隔有关。结果提示,小脑可以对上丘神经元听反应进行调制,这种调制作用可能是小脑调控回声定位过程中听觉－运动的中枢机制之一。     

5-羟色胺对电针抑制青霉素痫样放电的作用

本工作研究电针抑制青霉素所致大脑皮层痫样放电中5-羟色胺的作用。大鼠腹腔注射对氯苯丙氨酸,注射后第4天麻醉开颅,皮层施加青霉素引起痫样放电,并记录逆向刺激锥体央所引起的皮层回返抑制电位(SN)。在注药后动物,电针制痫作用明显减弱,痫波幅度及频率减小缓慢,SN 的恢复也较对照缓慢。电解损毁中缝背核后电针制痫作用亦减弱,痫波发作时程显著延长。电刺激中缝背核可促进痫波振幅及频率的衰减,发作时程缩短。电刺激中脑导水中管周围 灰质有遏制痫波的作用,但在注射对氯苯丙氨酸后此作用亦趋减弱。以上结果表明,在电针制痫中5-HT及5-HT能神经元集中的中缝背核起重要作用。     

Hypothalamic unit responses to impulses from the hippocampus and mesencephalic reticular formation

The effect of stimulation of the dorsal tegmentum mesencephali and dorsal hippocampus on spontaneous single unit activity of the retrochiasmal (RCA), lateral (LHA), medial dorsal (MHAd) and medial ventral (MHAv) hypothalamic regions was investigated in acute experiments on rabbits. During repetitive mesencephalic stimulation many more neurons were activated in all parts of the hypothalamus than during hippocampal stimulation. During mesencephalic stimulation more neurons were excited than inhibited in LHA, MHAd, and MHAv, but in RCA more were inhibited. During hippocampal stimulation spontaneous activity was inhibited in many more cells than during mesencephalic stimulation. Neurons on which convergence of impulses from the hippocampus and mesencephalon was observed numbered 25% in RCA, 39% in LHA, 46% in MHAd, and 29% in MHAv of the total number recorded. By their action (inhibitory or excitatory) on the hypothalamic neurons the mesencephalon and hippocampus were antagonistic in 60% of cases in RCA, 78% in LHA, and 61% in MHAd.I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 489–495, September–October, 1974.     

Dopamine D-2 receptor-mediated excitation of caudate nucleus neurons from the substantia nigra

Microiontophoretic studies using cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose were performed to elucidate whether the excitatory response of caudate nucleus (CN) neurons upon stimulation of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (SN) is mediated by the dopamine D-1 or D-2 receptor. There were rare convergent inputs from the SN and motor cortex (MC) in the CN neurons. Iontophoretic application of haloperidol and domperidone (dopamine D-2 receptor antagonist) produced dose-dependent inhibition of spikes elicited by SN stimulation in 25 of 42 and 50 of 82 CN neurons, respectively, however, no alterations of spikes elicited by MC stimulation occurred in any 11 neurons tested. Iontophoretically applied SCH 23390 (D-1 antagonist) did not inhibit the SN-induced spikes in any CN neurons, of which spikes were inhibited by domperidone. These results suggest that the SN-induced spikes are mediated by dopamine, which acts on postsynaptic D-2 receptors.     

Differential responsiveness to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity in sub-regions of the primate substantia nigra and striatum

After treatment with the neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), there was a severe loss of dopamine (DA) at all examined sites in the striatum, both in those monkeys which remained asymptomatic (77-99%) and in one monkey which developed severe parkinsonian disability (94-99%). However, the asymptomatic animals had normal DA concentration in the substantia nigra (SN); yet in the symptomatic animal DA was largely depleted in the central (86%) and medial (94%), but not lateral (8%) regions of the SN. The HVA/DA ratio was raised in the striatum of all MPTP-treated animals. In the SN though, this ratio was elevated only in the symptomatic animal, in the central and medial, but not lateral regions. The contralateral half of these brains were examined for DA histofluorescence. The SN of asymptomatic animals had a slight increase in lipofuscin fluorescence within dopaminergic neurons and a small reduction in the number of dopaminergic cells, while fluorescent intensity of individual neurons was unchanged. The SN of the symptomatic animal displayed a sharp decline in the number of DA neurons along with an increase in autofluorescent pigment granules; these changes were most pronounced in the central and medial regions of the SN. These data suggest that after MPTP the terminals of the nigrostriatal pathway are affected before the cell bodies. In the one symptomatic animal emergence of parkinsonian disability corresponded with a marked loss of DA neurons and DA concentration in the central and medial regions of the SN. In the control monkeys a gradient in the concentration of amines and metabolites was observed within the SN; the lateral region contained the highest and the medial region the lowest concentration.