SOMATOSTATIN AND THE PATCH MATRIX COMPARTMENTS OF THE RAT CAUDATE-PUTAMEN

In the caudate-putamen of the rat, two subpopulations of medium aspiny neurons exist that contain somatostatin. The first subpopulation cont ains somatostatin 14, somatostatin 28, and somatostatin 28(1-12). The other subpopulation contains only somatostatin 28. To examine the rela tionship between somatostatin-containing neurons and the patch/matrix compartments, a series of double-labelling experiments using antisera directed against different somatostatin peptides and calbindin were us ed. Sections stained in this manner were examined with the aid of a co nfocal microscope. The results of these experiments indicate that soma tostatin 28(1-12)-containing neurons may play a role in matrix integra tion, with some input directed from the patch compartment. In addition , somatostatin 28-containing neurons are more numerous in the patch co mpartment than somatostatin 28(1-12)-containing neurons,suggesting a p ossible role for these neurons in patch integration. (C) 1996 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.