Changes in neurotransmitters in superior colliculus after neonatal enucleation: biochemical and immunocytochemical...

The turnover rate of dopamine and serotonin and the level of glutamate in superior colliculus are increased in adult, neonatally enucleated rats compared with normal control adult animals. Moreover, immunocytochemical data showed that the stratum zonale and the stratum griseum superficiale of the superior colliculus, specifically of bienucleated rats, display a dense network of serotonin-immunoreactive fibres, suggesting an increase in serotoninergic innervation. At the electron microscope level, serotonin-immunoreactive fibres and large postsynaptic serotonin-immunoreactive profiles exhibiting microtubules could be observed in the stratum zonale and the stratum griseum superficiale of the bienucleated rat. These results suggest that neonatal enucleation produces reorganization of serotoninergic and glutamatergic inputs. It is possible that serotonin may exert a profound influence upon collicular function.