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Trigeminal nuclear complex of the ferret: Anatomical and Immunohistochemical studies
Author(s) -
Boissonade Fiona M.,
Sharkey Keith A.,
Lucier Gregory E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.903290302
Subject(s) - galanin , neurotensin , neuropeptide , substance p , enkephalin , spinal trigeminal nucleus , medicine , biology , endocrinology , somatostatin , nucleus , anatomy , neuroscience , nociception , opioid , receptor
In order to establish the ferret as an animal model for studies of trigeminal pain, we describe the cytoarchitecture and neurochemistry of the trigeminal nuclear complex in the ferret and compare them to those of the cat and rat. The complex was divided as previously described, but the ferret differed in the extent of the nuclear boundaries. The neuroantomical distribution of substance P‐, calcitonin gene‐related peptide‐, galanin‐, enkephalin‐, serotonin‐, somatostatin‐, neuropeptide Y‐, and neurotensin‐immunoreactivity was determined throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the complex. In subnucleus caudalis, substance P‐, calcitonin gene‐related peptide‐, enkephalin‐, serotonin‐, somatostatin‐, neuropeptide Y‐, and galanin‐immunoreactivity was densest in laminae I and II. In subnucleus interpolaris, immunoreactivity for all the above neurochemicals was most dense along the lateral border and the ventral third of the caudal part of the subnucleus. Enkephalin‐immunoreactive cell bodies were present in subnucleus caudalis and interpolaris. In subnucleus oralis, labelling for substance P, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, galanin, enkephalin, and serotonin was most prominent in the dorsomedial part of the subnucleus. Somatostatin‐immunoreactive cell bodies were distributed throughout the spinal nucleus. Labelling of serotonin, substance P, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, galanin, enkephalin, and somatostatin was present in the main sensory nucleus. The motor nucleus contained fibers immunoreactive for substance P, enkephalin, serotonin and neuropeptide Y, and cell bodies immunoreactive for calcitonin gene‐related peptide. The majority of neurotensin‐immunoreactivity was found at the level of subnucleus caudalis, where it was densest in the trigeminal extension of the lateral cervical nucleus. The distribution of peptides in this species throughout the spinal nucleus is consistent with the notion that all the subnuclei may be involved in the processing of nociceptive inputs. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.