Inhibitory zinc-enriched terminals in mouse spinal cord

The ultrastructural localization of zinc transporter-3, glutamate decarboxylase and zinc ions in zinc-enriched terminals in the mouse spinal cord was studied by zinc transporter-3 and glutamate decarboxylase immunohistochemistry and zinc selenium autometallography, respectively. The distribution of zinc selenium autometallographic silver grains, and zinc transporter-3 and glutamate decarboxylase immunohistochemical puncta in both ventral and dorsal horns as seen in the light microscope corresponded to their presence in the synaptic vesicles of zinc-enriched terminals at ultrastructural levels. The densest populations of zinc-enriched terminals were seen in dorsal horn laminae I, III and IV, whereas the deeper laminae V and VI contained fewer terminals. At ultrastructural levels, zinc-enriched terminals primarily formed symmetrical synapses on perikarya and dendrites. Only relatively few asymmetrical synapses were observed on zinc-enriched terminals. In general, the biggest zinc-enriched terminals contacted neuronal somata and large dendritic elements, while medium-sized and small terminals made contacts on small dendrites. The ventral horn was primarily populated by big and medium-sized zinc-enriched terminals, whereas the dorsal horn was dominated by medium-sized and small zinc-enriched terminals. The presence of boutons with flat synaptic vesicles with zinc ions and symmetric synaptic contacts suggests the presence of inhibitory zinc-enriched terminals in the mammalian spinal cord, and this was confirmed by the finding that zinc ions and glutamate decarboxylase are co-localized in these terminals. The pattern of zinc-enriched boutons in both dorsal and ventral horns is compatible with evidence suggesting that zinc may be involved in both sensory transmission and motor control.