Lateral olivocochlear neurons contain both enkephalin and dynorphin immunoreactivities: immunocytochemical co-localization studies.

Abstract

Antibodies to methionine enkephalin and to dynorphin B were used in an immunocytochemical study examining co-containment of enkephalins and dynorphins in olivocochlear neurons in the guinea pig lateral superior olive. Two methods of sequential co-localization were employed: one using primary antibodies from different species, the second using elution of antibodies. Co-localization of enkephalin-like and dynorphin-like immunoreactivities was found in lateral olivocochlear neurons, suggesting co-containment of enkephalins and dynorphins in this projection pathway from the lateral superior olive to the organ of Corti.