Neuronal gap junctions between intraglomerular mitral/tufted cell dendrites in the mouse main olfactory bulb

in the mouse main olfactory bulb (MOB) gap junction-forming processes in glomeruli were analyzed by means of the serial electron microscopical reconstruction. Gap junctions were encountered between diverse types of dendritic processes and thus confirming our previous study on gap junctions in the rat MOB. Importantly, among more than 30 gap junctions examined in serial sections, we encountered 3 gap junctions made between mitral/tufted cell dendrites in the glomerulus. Then we must consider both direct coupling between mitral/tufted cells via gap junctions and indirect coupling between mitral/tufted cells via intervening interneuronal processes as suggested previously. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and The Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.