Dopaminergic axons directly make synapses with GABAergic neurons in the rat neostriatum

We examined with an electron microscopic 'mirror technique' whether glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive (GAD-IR) neurons are in direct synaptic contact with tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) axons in the rat neostriatum. Three types of GAD-IR neurons were identified in the nucleus caudatus putamen based upon their size and ultrastructural characteristics. These were medium spiny, medium aspiny and large cells. All types of GAD-IR neurons made synaptic contact with TH-IR axonal boutons at least on perikarya and proximal dendrites. This provides ultrastructural evidence for catecholaminergic, presumably, nigrostriatal dopaminergic inputs to both long- and short-axon neurons most probably containing GABA.