Interrelationships Between Spinal Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurons, Autonomic Systems and Electrical Synapses Formed by Connexin36-containing Gap Junctions

Spinal sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) are among the many neuronal populations in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) where there is evidence for electrical coupling between cell pairs linked by gap junctions composed of connexin36 (Cx36). Understanding the organization of this coupling in relation to autonomic functions of spinal sympathetic systems requires knowledge of how these junctions are deployed among SPNs. Here, we document the distribution of immunofluorescence detection of Cx36 among SPNs identi-fied by immunolabelling of their various markers, including choline acetyltransferase, nitric oxide and peripherin in adult and developing mouse and rat. In adult animals, labelling of Cx36 was exclusively punctate and dense concentrations of Cx36-puncta were distributed along the entire length of the spinal thoracic intermediolateral cell column (IML). These puncta were also seen in association with SPN dendritic processes in the lateral funicu-lus, the intercalated and central autonomic areas and those within and extending medially from the IML. All label-ling for Cx36 was absent in spinal cords of Cx36 knockout mice. High densities of Cx36-puncta were already evident among clusters of SPNs in the IML of mouse and rat at postnatal days 10-12. In Cx36BAC::eGFP mice, eGFP reporter was absent in SPNs, thus representing false negative detection, but was localized to some gluta-matergic and GABAergic synaptic terminals. Some eGFP+ terminals were found contacting SPN dendrites. These results indicate widespread Cx36 expression in SPNs, further supporting evidence of electrical coupling between these cells, and suggest that SPNs are innervated by neurons that themselves may be electrically coupled.& COPY; 2023 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study shows that there is extensive distribution of connexin36 (Cx36) in spinal sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) in adult and developing mouse and rat, highlighting the evidence of electrical coupling between these cells. Cx36 puncta were found along the entire length of the spinal thoracic intermediolateral cell column (IML) and associated with SPN dendritic processes. These findings suggest that SPNs are electrically coupled and innervated by other neurons.