Synaptic interactions between GABAergic neurons and trigeminothalamic cells in the rat trigeminal nucleus caudalis

Synaptic interactions between GABAergic neurons and thalamic projecting cells within the trigeminal nucleus caudalis were examined using a combined method of GABA immunohistochemistry and retrograde WGA-HRP labeling of the trigeminothalamic pathway. Results showed that GABA-positive neurons and projecting cells were separate but closely intermingled within the spinal trigeminal nucleus. GABAergic axon terminals formed symmetric synaptic connections with the cell bodies and dendrites of trigeminothalamic neurons. In turn, some WGA-HRP filled axon terminals, presumed to originate from axon collaterals of the projecting neurons, formed synaptic connections with GABA containing neurons. The results suggest that in the spinal trigeminal nucleus there is a reciprocal modulation between GABA neurons and trigeminothalamic cells.