Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity distinguishes a sub-population of GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the ventrobasal complex of the cat

This study describes the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-ir) immunoreactive neurons in the thalamic ventrobasal complex of the cat. NOS-it is co-localized with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA-ir) in a subset of small neurons identified as local circuit neurons in previous studies. The double labeled neurons are further identified by a larger soma diameter when compared to GABA-ir only neurons. All NOS-ir somata exhibit GABA-ir but none exhibit immunoreactivity to calbindin.