5—HT能纤维向猫脊髓膈神经核及延髓膈肌前运动神经元的投射

实验在6只成年猫上进行,将WGA－HRP微量注入C5膈神经核内,通过逆行追踪及5－HT免疫组织化学FITC荧光双重标记方法,研究了中缝核5－HT能神经元向脊髓膈神经核的投射,同时观察了延髓膈肌产运动神经元接受5－HT能纤维投射的情况,结果在中缝苍白核观察到较多的HRP－5－HT双标记神经元,在中缝大核,中缝隐核观察到少数散在的双标记神经元,在延髓疑核,孤束核腹外侧区域的HRP单核记神经元（即膈肌前运动神经元）周围观察到5－HT能轴突末梢,结构表明：发自中缝苍白核5－HT能神经元的传出纤维可投射到脊髓膈神经核,延髓膈肌前运动神经元接受5－HT能纤维的传入投射。     

KF核及Btzinger复合体内GABA能神经元向膈神经核的投射

实验在 6只成年猫上进行。将WGA HRP微量注入C5膈神经核内 ,通过逆行追踪及GABA免疫组织化学FITC荧光双重标记方法 ,研究了脑干内GABA能神经元向膈神经核的投射。结果在脑桥KF核和面神经后核周围区 (即B¨otzinger复合体 )观察到GABA HRP双标神经元。另外 ,在中缝大核、旁巨细胞外侧核及前庭神经核也观察到双标神经元。本实验结果表明 :发自上述脑干神经核团 ,特别是KF核及B¨otzinger复合体的GABA能神经元的轴突可投射到膈神经核     

黄雀中脑及丘脑听性核团的纤维联系

本文用ＨＲＰ顺、逆行追踪方法，研究黄雀中脑下丘中央核（ＩＣｃ）及丘脑卵圆核（ＯＶ）的传入联系及ＯＶ向端脑的投射。将ＨＲＰ微电泳入ＩＣｃ，在延髓角状核、层状核及脑桥外侧丘系核复合体出现了密布的标记细胞，在ＯＶ及卵圆核的腹内侧部见到密集的标记终末，在对侧ＩＣｃ有许多的标记细胞及终末。将ＨＲＰ微电泳入ＯＶ，除在ＩＣｃ有大量的标记细胞外，在端脑Ｌ听区等处见到密集的标记终末。结果表明，ＩＣｃ接受角状核、层状核和外侧丘系核复合体的传入投射，由它发出的纤维投射到ＯＶ及卵圆核的腹内侧部，双侧ＩＣｃ间有往返联系，从ＯＶ发出的纤维投射至端脑的Ｌ听区。Ｌ听区可能是听觉的高位中枢。     

大鼠延髓至下丘脑腹内侧核的儿茶酚胺能投射神经元在胃伤害性刺激后的Fos表达

本实验用ＨＲＰ注入下丘脑腹内侧核结合逆行追踪与抗ＦＯＳ蛋白和抗酪氨酸羟化酶（ＴＨ）抗血清双重免疫细胞化学相结合的三重标记方法,对大鼠孤束核和延髓腹外侧区至下丘脑腹内侧核的儿茶酚胺能投射神经元在胃伤害性刺激后的ｃ－ｆｏｓ表达进行了观察。本文发现孤束核和延髓腹外侧区有七种不同的标记细胞：ＨＲＰ、Ｆｏｓ、ＴＨ单标细胞Ｆｏｓ／ＨＲＰ、Ｆｏｓ／ＴＨ、ＨＲＰ／ＴＨ双标细胞和Ｆｏｓ／ＨＲＰ／ＴＨ三标细胞。上述七种标记细胞主要分布在延髓中段和尾段孤束核的内侧亚核和延髓腹外侧区以及两者之间的网状结构。ＨＲＰ标记细胞以注射侧为主,对侧有少量分布。本文结果证明,大鼠孤束核、延髓腹外侧区和网状结构内儿茶酚胺能神经元有些至下丘脑腹内侧核的投射,其中一部分儿茶酚胺能神经元参与了胃伤害性刺激的传导和调控。     

鸣禽欧椋鸟带状核的传出投射—PHAL顺行示踪法研究

本实验应用顺行神经示踪物ＰＨＡＬ对鸣禽欧椋鸟（Ｓｔｕｒｎｕｓ ｖｕｌｇａｒｉｓ）带状核（Ｔｎ）的传出投射作了定位研究。Ｔｎ核的传出投射经背腹两条路线：（１）从Ｔｎ核背部进入端脑的ＰＨＡＬ标记纤维,分别终止在新纹状体内侧,隔内侧核（ＳＭ）,侧室腔外侧带和额上层腹侧带;（２）另一组标记纤维从Ｔｎ核腹侧直接向丘脑投射,在下丘脑腹内侧核（ＶＭＮ）和外侧核（ＬＨｙ）分别获得大量ＰＨＡＬ免疫反应纤维的终末标记。结果提示：Ｔｎ核可能为鸟类旁听觉神经通路的一个组成部分。     

KF核及B(o)tzinger复合体内GABA能神经元向膈神经核的投射

实验在６只成年猫上进行。将ＷＧＡ－ＨＲＰ微量注入Ｃ５膈神经核内,通过逆行追踪及ＧＡＢＡ免疫组织化学ＦＩＴＣ荧光双重标记方法,研究了脑干内ＧＡＢＡ能神经元向膈神经核的投射。结果在脑桥ＫＦ核和面神经后核周围区（即Ｂｏｔｚｉｎｇｅｒ复合体）观察到ＧＡＢＡ－ＨＲＰ双标神经元。另外,在中缝大核、旁巨细胞外侧核及前庭神经核也观察到双标神经元。本实验结果表明：发自上述脑干神经核团,特别是ＫＦ核及Ｂｏｔｚｉｎｇｅ     

大鼠杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部向杏仁中央核的纤维投射──HRP逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学法研究

本实验采用ＨＲＰ逆行示踪结合免疫组织化学方法,对大鼠杏仁底基底外侧核腹侧部向中央杏仁核的纤维投射特征及其化学特性进行了研究。一侧杏仁中央核（Ｃｅ）内注射ＨＲＰ后,于双侧杏仁基底外侧核腹侧部（ＢＬＶ）观察到大量ＨＲＰ标记神经元,以对侧为主;在杏仁基底外侧核前（ＢＬＡ）、后（ＢＬＰ）部及梨状皮质内侧部（ＰＣＭ）第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层仅观察到少量ＨＲＰ标记神经元。当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核内侧部（ＣｅＭ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对多．当注射范围局限于杏仁中央核外侧部（ＣｅＬ）,ＢＬＶ的标记神经元相对少。将有ＨＲＰ标记神经元的切片分别与生长抑素（ＳＯＭ）、脑啡呔（ＥＮＫ）、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）抗血清按ＡＢＣ法完成免疫组织化学反应,结果在ＢＬＶ、ＰＣＭ第Ⅱ、Ⅲ层观察到ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ免疫阳性双标记神经元,但未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ免疫阳性双标记神经元;在ＢＬＡ和ＢＬＰ未发现ＨＲＰ－ＳＯＭ、ＨＲＰ－ＥＮＫ、ＨＲＰ－ＳＰ免疫阳性双标记神经元。本文着重讨论了ＢＬＶ与内脏功能活动的关系,认为ＢＬＶ不同于ＢＬＡ与ＢＬＰ,它参与“内脏环路”。此外,还分析了ＰＣＭ投射到Ｃｅ的神经元的功能学意义。     

大鼠“延髓内脏带”向缰核投射的儿茶酚胺能神经元对躯体伤害性刺激的Fos表达

为了研究大鼠“延髓内脏带”投射至缰核之儿茶酚胺能神经元在躯体伤害性刺激后的c－fos表达,使用了WGA－HRP逆行追踪法与抗Fos和抗酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）免疫组织化学染色结合的三重标记方法。将WGA－HRP定位注射入右侧缰核,48h后向右前爪跖部皮下注射50ml8％For－malin,2h后动物被处死,用500ml含4％多聚甲醛的0．1mol／L磷酸缓冲液（PB,pH7．4）灌流固定。取出WGA－HRP注射区,脊髓颈段和延髓,切制连续冠状冰冻切片（厚40μm）。首先用四甲基联苯胺（TMB）对WGA－HRP注射区和延髓切片进行组织化学反应,然后脊髓和延髓切片先进行抗Fos的免疫组化染色,延髓切片再进行抗TH的免疫组化反应。结果在光镜下于延髓内脏带区观察到七种标记神经元,即Fos、TH抗标记神经元,HRP逆行标记神经元;Fos／HRP、Fos／TH、HRP／TH双标记神经元。和Fos／HRP／TH三标记神经元。本文结果证明：延髓内脏带内某些投射至缰核的儿茶酚胺能神经元可能参与躯体伤害性刺激的传导和调控。     

降钙素基因相关肽、P物质、甘丙肽和γ-氨基丁酸免疫阳性细胞在大鼠结合臂旁核的分布

应用免疫细胞化学ABC技术观察了降钙素基因相关肽,P物质、甘丙肽和γ-氨基丁酸免疫阳性胞体在大鼠结合臂旁核中的分布。降钙索基因相关肽阳性神经元分布于臂旁内侧核的腹侧部及外内侧亚核、臂旁外侧核的外外侧亚核、极外侧亚核,背外侧亚核及上外侧亚核,也分布于KllikerFuse核。P物质阳性胞体分布于臂旁内侧核内侧部和外内侧亚核、臂部外侧核的外外侧亚核及极外侧亚核,在腹外侧亚核中亦见个别细胞分布。甘丙肽阳性细胞的分布较为广泛,分布于臂旁外侧核和臂旁内侧核所有的亚核及Klliker-Fuse核中,γ-氨基丁酸阳性神经元在中尾部臂旁核中分布于臂旁外侧核背内侧部包括背外侧亚核、腹外侧亚核、内外侧亚核及结合臂背侧部;在嘴部和中嘴部臂旁核,GABA阳性胞体除位于臂旁外侧核背内侧部的背外侧亚核、腹外侧亚核、中央外侧亚核、上外侧亚核及内外侧亚核外,也出现于腹外侧部的外外侧亚核、臂旁内侧核内侧部及Klliker-Fuse核。     

家兔延髓腹侧区在吗啡抑制呼吸机制中的作用

实验在36只麻醉、制动和人工通气的家兔上进行。探讨了延髓腹侧区在吗啡引起呼吸抑制机制中的作用。结果观察到:将浸透吗啡药液的滤纸片敷贴于延髓腹侧面的S区,可以引起膈神经放电抑制;将纳洛酮置于同一区域可翻转吗啡的效应;谷氨酸钠用于S区可引起膈神经放电加强;脑桥臂旁内侧核(NPBM)微量注射吗啡引起的膈神经放电抑制效应可被钠洛酮用于S区所预防;电刺激NPBM 主要引起延髓腹侧区单位放电的抑制反应,在这些出现抑制反应的单位中,大部分对微电泳给予吗啡也表现为放电的抑制。上述结果表明,家兔延髓腹侧区存在能激活膈神经放电的神经元;将吗啡微量注射于 NPBM,可通过激活延髓腹侧区的阿片受体使该区域某些神经元抑制,进而引起膈神经放电的抑制。     

Neuronal inputs from the hypothalamus and brain stem to the medial preoptic area of the ram: neurochemical correlates and comparison to the ewe

The retrograde tracer, FluoroGold, was used to trace the neuronal inputs from the septum, hypothalamus, and brain stem to the region of the GnRH neurons in the rostral preoptic area of the ram and to compare these imputs with those in the ewe. Sex differences were found in the number of retrogradely labeled cells in the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei. Retrogradely labeled cells were also observed in the lateral septum, preoptic area, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, stria terminalis, subfornical organ, periventricular nucleus, anterior hypothalamic area, lateral hypothalamus, arcuate nucleus, and posterior hypothalamus. These sex differences may partially explain sex differences in how GnRH secretion is regulated. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to determine the neurochemical identity of some of these cells in the ram. Very few tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the A14 group (<1%), ACTH-containing neurons (<1%), and neuropeptide Y-containing neurons (1-5%) in the arcuate nucleus contained FluoroGold. The ventrolateral medulla and parabrachial nucleus contained the main populations of FluoroGold-containing neurons in the brain stem. Retrogradely labeled neurons were also observed in the nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal raphe nucleus, and periaqueductal gray matter. Virtually all FluoroGold-containing cells in the ventrolateral medulla and about half of these cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract also stained for dopamine beta-hydroxylase. No other retrogradely labeled cells in the brain stem were noradrenergic. Although dopamine, beta-endorphin, and neuropeptide Y have been implicated in the regulation of GnRH secretion in males, it is unlikely that these neurotransmitters regulate GnRH secretion via direct inputs to GnRH neurons.     

Brainstem areas involved in the aspiration reflex: c-Fos study in anesthetized cats

Expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos, a marker of neuronal activation was employed in adult anesthetized non-decerebrate cats, in order to localize the brainstem neuronal populations functionally related to sniff-like (gasp-like) aspiration reflex (AR). Tissues were immunoprocessed using an antibody raised against amino acids of Fos and the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method. The level of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) was identified and counted in particular brainstem sections under light microscopy using PC software evaluations in control, unstimulated cats and in cats where the AR was elicited by repeated mechanical stimulation of the nasopharyngeal region. Fourteen brainstem regions with FLI labeling, including thirty-seven nuclei were compared for the number of labeled cells. Compared to the control, a significantly enhanced FLI was determined bilaterally in animals with the AR, at various medullary levels. The areas included the nuclei of the solitary tract (especially the dorsal, interstitial and ventrolateral subnuclei), the ventromedial part of the parvocellular tegmental field (FTL -- lateral nuclei of reticular formation), the lateral reticular nucleus, the ambigual and para-ambigual regions, and the retrofacial nucleus. FLI was also observed in the gigantocellular tegmental field (FTG -- medial nuclei of reticular formation), the spinal trigeminal nucleus, in the medullar raphe nuclei (ncl. raphealis magnus and parvus), and in the medial and lateral vestibular nuclei. Within the pons, a significant FLI was observed bilaterally in the parabrachial nucleus (especially in its lateral subnucleus), the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, the nucleus coeruleus, within the medial region of brachium conjunctivum, in the ventrolateral part of the pontine FTG and the FTL. Within the mesencephalon a significantly enhanced FLI was found at the central tegmental field (area ventralis tegmenti Tsai), bilaterally. Positive FLI found in columns extending from the caudal medulla oblongata, through the pons up to the mid-mesencephalon suggests that the aspiration reflex is thus co-ordinated by a long loop of medullary-pontine-mesencephalic control circuit rather than by a unique "center".     

Spinal projections of brainstem respiratory related neurons in the cat as revealed by retrograde fluorescent markers

By means of retrograde axonal transport of fluorescent tracers, connections between brainstem respiratory related regions and the spinal cord has been studied in the cat. Neurons at the pneumotaxic center project bilaterally (90% ipsi-, 10% contra-) to cervical and lumbar spinal cord and ipsilaterally to thoracic levels. The ventrolateral nucleus of the tractus solitarius project mainly contralaterally (85%) to cervical levels and only contralaterally to thoracic levels; no efferent projections were found to lumbar levels. The ventral respiratory group showed a great number of neurons projecting to the spinal cord especially from the nucleus retroambiguus. Both nuclei, ambiguus and retroambiguus, project mainly contralaterally (70%) to the spinal cord. The B?tzinger complex showed rather scarce bilateral projections to cervical and only ipsilateral projections to lower cervical, thoracic and lumber levels.     

大鼠延髓网状背侧亚核内5-羟色胺能、P物质样和脑啡肽样阳性终末的中枢起源

研究用荧光金（ＦＧ）逆行追踪与免疫荧光组化染色相结合的双标技术对大鼠脑干向延髓网状背侧亚核（ＳＲＤ）的５┐羟色胺（５┐ＨＴ）能、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）能和亮氨酸┐脑啡肽（Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ）能投射进行了观察。将ＦＧ注入ＳＲＤ后,ＦＧ逆标神经元主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇（中缝背核、中缝正中核、中缝桥核、中缝大核、中缝隐核和中缝苍白核）、巨细胞网状核α部、延髓网状结构的内侧部和外侧部、延髓外侧网状核、三叉神经脊束核尾侧亚核和孤束核。５┐羟色胺（５┐ＨＴ）样、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）样和亮氨酸脑啡肽（Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ）样阳性神经元主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部;此外,ＳＰ样和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性神经元还见于臂旁核、背外侧被盖核和孤束核。ＦＧ逆标并呈５┐ＨＴ样、ＳＰ样或Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性的双标神经元也主要见于中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部,尤其是位于延髓中缝核团内的双标神经元数量较多。本研究的结果说明ＳＲＤ内的５┐ＨＴ样、ＳＰ样和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ样阳性终末主要来自中脑导水管周围灰质、脑干中缝核簇和巨细胞网状核α部,向ＳＲＤ发出５┐ＨＴ能、ＳＰ能和Ｌ┐ＥＮＫ能投射的上述核团对ＳＲＤ发挥“弥漫性伤害抑     

Developmental study of cytochrome oxidase activity in the brain stem respiratory nuclei of postnatal rats.

We utilized cytochrome oxidase (CO) as a marker of neuronal functional activity to examine metabolic changes in brain stem respiratory nuclei of rats from newborn to 21 day of age. The pre-B?tzinger complex (PBC), upper airway motoneurons of nucleus ambiguus (NA(UAM)), ventrolateral nucleus of solitary tract (NTS(VL)), and medial and lateral parabrachial nuclei (PB(M) and PB(L), respectively) were examined at postnatal days (P) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, and 21. CO histochemistry was performed, and the intensity of CO reaction product was quantitatively analyzed by optical densitometry. In addition, CO histochemistry was combined with neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) immunogold-silver staining to doubly label neurons of PBC in P14 animals. The results showed that levels of CO activity generally increased with age in all of the nuclei examined. However, a significant decrease was found in NA(UAM) at P3 (P < 0.01), and a distinct plateau of CO activity was noted at P3 in PBC and at P3 and P4 in NTS(VL), PB(M), and PB(L). Of the neurons examined in PBC, 83% were doubly labeled with CO and NK1R. Of these, CO activity was high in 33.9%, moderate in 27.3%, and light in 38.8% of neurons, suggesting different energy demands in these metabolic groups that may be related to their physiological or synaptic properties. The transient decrease or plateau in CO activity at P3 and P4 implies a period of synaptic adjustment or reorganization during development, when there may be decreased excitatory synaptic drive or increased inhibitory synaptic drive, or both, in these brain stem respiratory nuclei. The adjustment, in turn, may render the system less responsive to respiratory insults. This may bear some relevance to our understanding of pathological events during postnatal development, such as occurs in sudden infant death syndrome.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of c-fos protein in neurons of the medulla oblongata of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus) after veratrine administration.

We subcutaneously injected 0.5 mg/kg veratrine into the musk shrew (Suncus murinus), observed the presence or absence, latency, and the incidence of vomiting in each animal for 90 min, and selected animals that frequently vomited (FV group) and those that did not vomit (NV group). Subsequently, animal brains were removed, and the induction of c-fos protein (Fos) was immunohistochemically examined to evaluate neuronal activity in the medulla oblongata. The distribution of Fos-positive neurons in the medulla oblongata was similar between FV and NV groups, with numerous neurons along the entire length of the nucleus of the solitary tract and in the ventrolateral reticular formation. Both veratrine-injected groups showed higher numbers of positive neurons than the saline administered group. However, while the FV group showed a high concentration of positive neurons in the dorsal-dorsomedial reticular formation of the nucleus ambiguus in the rostral medulla, the NV group showed few positive neurons in this area. Fos activity in neurons in this area appeared to be higher in animals with a higher incidence of vomiting.     

Distribution of Fos-Like Immunoreactivity,Catecholaminergic and Serotoninergic Neurons Activated by the Laryngeal Chemoreflex in the Medulla Oblongata of Rats

The laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR) induces apnea, glottis closure, bradycardia and hypertension in young and maturing mammals. We examined the distribution of medullary nuclei that are activated by the LCR and used immunofluorescent detection of Fos protein as a cellular marker for neuronal activation to establish that the medullary catecholaminergic and serotoninergic neurons participate in the modulation of the LCR. The LCR was elicited by the infusion of KCl-HCl solution into the laryngeal lumen of adult rats in the experimental group, whereas the control group received the same surgery but no infusion. In comparison, the number of regions of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) that were activated by the LCR significantly increased in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC), the loose formation of the nucleus ambiguus (AmbL), the rostral ventral respiratory group (RVRG), the ventrolateral reticular complex (VLR), the pre-Bötzinger complex (PrBöt), the Bötzinger complex (Böt), the spinal trigeminal nucleus (SP5), and the raphe obscurus nucleus (ROb) bilaterally from the medulla oblongata. Furthermore, 12.71% of neurons with FLI in the dorsolateral part of the nucleus of the solitary tract (SolDL) showed tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity (TH-ir, catecholaminergic), and 70.87% of neurons with FLI in the ROb were serotoninergic. Our data demonstrated the distribution of medullary nuclei that were activated by the LCR, and further demonstrated that catecholaminergic neurons of the SolDL and serotoninergic neurons of the ROb were activated by the LCR, indicating the potential central pathway of the LCR.     

The Intrinsic Organization of the Ventroposterolateral Nucleus and Related Reticular Thalamic Nucleus of the Rat: A Double-Labeling Ultrastructural Investigation with γ-Aminobutyric Acid Immunogold Staining and Lectin-Conjugated Horseradish Peroxidase

An electron-microscopic investigation of the synaptic organization of the rat's ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL) and of a reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) area related to somatosensory thalamic nucleus was performed. In a group of 11 rats, wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA:HRP) was injected either in the first somatosensory area of cortex (SI) or in the dorsal column nuclei (DCN). The retrogradely and/or anterogradely transported enzyme was visualized using paraphenylenediamine-pyrocatechol (PPD-PC) as substrate. In a second series of six experiments, an immunocytochemical procedure using a specific anti-γ-aminobutyric acid (anti-GABA) was employed. Postembedding localization of GABA was performed for ultrastructural observation by means of the colloidal gold immunostaining procedure. Thin sections of recognized VPL and RTN areas from WGA:HRP-injected animals were further processed for immunocytochemistry in order to localize simultaneously, at the electron-microscopic level, the transported enzyme and GABA.

The results obtained with this procedure demonstrated that HRP-labeled terminals from DCN contacted the soma and proximal dendrites of VPL neurons, while the terminals labeled after SI cortical injections were predominantly localized to the distal portion of the dendrites. The same cortical injection also determined the presence of labeled synaptic boutons contacting the soma, and both proximal and distal dendrites of RTN neurons. GABA-immunolabeled terminals were observed in VPL in a number larger than those observed with other methods, since not only typical F terminals were labeled but also terminals containing round and/or pleomorphic vesicles. GABA-ergic terminals contacted the soma and the proximal and distal dendrites of VPL neurons, while in RTN cells they made synaptic contact mainly with the soma and proximal dendrites. In the double-labeling experiments, terminals containing both HRP and specific immunogold GABA staining were never observed.

The present data provide a direct demonstration of the presence of a strong inhibitory input from RTN upon VPL neurons and of the existence of autoinhibition within RTN neurons.     

Intramedullary projections of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract in the rat: gustatory influences on autonomic output

The efferent connections of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the rat were studied by anterograde transport of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. Rostral to the injection site, fibers travel through the rostral parvocellular reticular formation and deflect medially or laterally around the motor trigeminal nucleus, giving off few terminals in these nuclei and terminate in the parabrachial nucleus. Moderate projections to the peritrigeminal zone, including the intertrigeminal nucleus and the dorsal subcoeruleus nucleus, were observed. Caudally to the injection site, dense innervations from the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract were detected in the parvocellular reticular formation ventral and caudal to the injection site and in the intermediate and ventral medullary reticular formation. The rostral central and ventral subdivisions of the NTS up to the level where the nucleus of the solitary tract abuts the fourth ventricle and the hypoglossal nucleus, receive moderate input from the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract. In general, the projections from the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract were bilateral with an ipsilateral predominance. The caudal part of the nucleus of the solitary tract, the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the facial nucleus were not labeled. It is concluded that medullary rNTS projections participate in oral motor behavior and autonomic control of abdominal organs.