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Synaptic connectivity of barosensitive NTS circuit neurons: A pseudorabies virus study
Author(s) -
McGovern David,
Potts Jeff T
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a465-c
Subject(s) - pseudorabies , area postrema , baroreceptor , microinjection , solitary tract , biology , anatomy , brainstem , virus , virology , central nervous system , neuroscience , endocrinology , heart rate , blood pressure
The connectivity of barosensitive circuit neurons in the NTS remains unknown. Transneuronal transport of a recombinant isogenic form of the Bartha strain of pseudorabies virus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (PRV 152) was used to trace NTS circuit neurons transmitting input from arterial baroreceptors. Rats (n=4) were anesthetized and received a single microinjection (60–100 nl) of PRV 152 (9×10 8 pfu/ml) and cholera toxin B (0.1%) into a discrete region of the caudal ventrolateral medulla that contained pulse synchronous neuronal activity. Rats recovered and were transcardially perfused 1, 2, and 4 days post‐injection. PRV labeling was visualized using standard epifluorescence and NTS circuit neurons were reconstructed using Neurolucida software. PRV positive cells were observed in the NTS by Day 2 post‐injection. Positively labeled cells were localized in close proximity to the solitary tract ipsilateral to the injection. At longer post‐injection times (Days 2 and 4), PRV infected neurons were widely distributed bilaterally in the medial, central and intermediate NTS subdivisions from calamus scriptorius to the obex. PRV labeled cells were also found in area postrema. By Day 4, PRV labeling was present in the nodose ganglia. These findings indicate that PRV 152 is an effective trans‐synaptic tracer that can be used to identify NTS circuits. Supported by NIH HL059167.