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Spinal cord and trigeminal projections to the pontine parabrachial region in the rat as demonstrated with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin
Author(s) -
Slugg Robert M.,
Light Alan R.
Publication year - 1994
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.903390106
Subject(s) - parabrachial nucleus , spinal cord , lateral parabrachial nucleus , anatomy , pons , brainstem , medulla , biology , spinal trigeminal nucleus , neuroscience , biotinylated dextran amine , nociception , trigeminal nerve , medulla oblongata , anterograde tracing , nucleus , central nervous system , biochemistry , receptor
In order to determine the regions within the parabrachial nucleus that receive synaptic input from nociceptive regions of the spinal cord and medulla in the rat, we analyzed the “Golgi‐like” labeling produced by anterograde transport of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA‐L) from discrete iontophoretic injections confined to either the superficial dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord or to the superficial dorsal horn of the trigeminal nucleus at the level of the obex. Labeled fibers from both the spinal cord and the medulla ascended through the ventral lateral pons and coursed with the ventral spinocerebellar tract toward the parabrachial nuclei. Spinal cord injections led to labeling of fine caliber fibers and en passant and terminal enlargements in the rostral part of the contralateral lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL), mostly in the central lateral and dorsal lateral subnuclei. Medullary injections revealed fiber and enlargement labeling primarily in the ipsilateral caudal PBL, mostly in the central lateral, external lateral, and medial subnuclei. Injections in both regions resulted in labeled terminations in the Kö;lliker‐Fuse nucleus. These results indicate that the nociceptive regions of the spinal cord and medulla terminate in regions of the parabrachial nucleus that have been associated with autonomic functions because of their interconnections with the hypothalamus, brainstem cardiovascular and respiratory control centers, and the amygdala. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.