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Neuroanatomical characterization of the phrenic nucleus in adult mice
Author(s) -
Qiu Kai,
Michael Lane A,
Reier Paul J,
Fuller David D
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.783.2
Subject(s) - phrenic nerve , cholera toxin , motor neuron , neuroscience , respiratory system , medulla , biology , retrograde tracing , medulla oblongata , axoplasmic transport , anatomy , spinal cord , central nervous system , endocrinology
Targeted gene delivery to phrenic motoneurons (PhMNs) may be important in transgenic mouse models of respiratory insufficiency including glycogen storage disease and muscular dystrophy. The present study was conducted to determine how the distribution of PhMNs and pre‐phrenic interneurons in the mouse compared with that seen in the rat. PhMNs were retrogradely labeled in adult C57BL/6 mice with cholera toxin (β‐subunit) and a transneuronal tracer (pseudo‐rabies virus; PRV). Both tracers revealed that PhMN distribution was similar to what has been reported in the rat (HG Goshgarian and JA Rafols, J. Comp. Neurol ., 1981), with minor differences. Retrograde labeling of PhMNs was most robust in the C3‐C4 segments and 191±9 cholera‐toxin labeled cells were observed on each side. PRV studies also indicated the presence of pre‐phrenic cervical interneurons as reported in rat (MA Lane et al., J. Comp. Neurol. , 2008). No dendrites were observed to cross the spinal midline. Anterograde tracing experiments further demonstrated that some projections from the region of the ventral respiratory column in the medulla cross the spinal midline at the level of PhMNs. These data provide an anatomical basis for targeted gene delivery to phrenic motoneurons. Funding: NIH 1R01HD052682‐01A1 (DDF) and NIH RO1 NS054025 (PJR) grants.