The neuronal cell types in the arcuate nucleus in normal and monosodium glutamate treated rats: a Golgi study

Two histochemical different populations of neurons migrate from the median eminence (ME) into the arcuate nucleus (ARC) at puberty in rats. Therefore the cellular composition of the ARC was studied in normal and monosodium glutamate (MSG) treated female rats at 22, 35, 55 days after birth and in mature ones. Golgi-Cox and mainly Rio-Hortega techniques with Nissl counterstaining were applied. In the mature arcuate nucleus several types of Golgi impregnated cells can be discerned. Neonatal MSG-treatment exclusively destructs the arcuate dopaminergic cells. From the Golgi-preparations it appears that in these animals one type is indeed damaged in or at the ARC.