Monoaminergic Neurons

With this Handbook Series, IBRO aims to fill a major gap in the world literature. The neuroscientist needs to be able to turn to whichever specialised method is most suited to the problem he is currently studying. Methods in the Neurosciences will help to provide expert advice on exactly how to carry out the experiments, on what difficulties can occur and on the limitations of the method. Monoaminergic Neurons: Light Microscopy and Ultrastructure is the tenth book in the series; it provides detailed technical information on the procedures for studying neurons containing amines (noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine) in the peripheral and central nervous system, using light or electron microscopy. These (immuno)histochemical techniques are invaluable for demonstrating the distribution and anatomical complexity of nerve fibres and for the analysis of the synaptic connections of this important class of neurons. Three light microscope techniques are described in detail: formaldehyde-induced fluorescence; immunohistochemistry using antibodies to the synthesising enzymes; immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry using antibodies to the monoamines themselves.
The use of autoradiography and Golgi-electron microscopy is described, as well as the fine-structural localisation of the enzymes and some of the monoamines. The book provides an ideal introduction to this methodology for all basic neuroscientists, neuroanatomists, neuropharmacologists and neuropathologists.