Three types of GABA-immunoreactive cells in the lamprey spinal cord

Abstract Polyclonal antisera raised against conjugated GABA were used to study the distribution of GABAergic neurons in the spinal cords of lampreys ( Lampetra fluviatilis and Ichtyomyzon unicuspis ) using immunofluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase techniques. Three morphologically distinct types of GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-ir) cell bodies were observed, multipolar neurons in the lateral grey cell column, apparently bipolar cells in the ventral aspect of the dorsal horn, and small liquor-contacting cells surrounding the central canal. A high density of immunoreactive fibers of spinal origin were present in the lateral and ventral funiculi, whereas the dorsal column had a relatively low density. Dense GABA-ir plexuses were situated in the lateral spinal margin, and in the dorsal part of the dorsal horn. A chronic lesion of the rostral spinal cord did not result in any observable loss of GABA-ir fibers below or above the lesion, suggesting that the 3 types o f segmental GABA-ir neurons are the main sources of the GABAergic innervation of the lamprey spinal cord.