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The Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Modulates Gut‐Related Neurons in the Dorsal Vagal Complex in Rats
Author(s) -
Zhang Xueguo,
Cui Jinjuan,
Tan Zhenjun,
Jiang Chunhui,
Fogel Ronald
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.045906
Subject(s) - dorsal motor nucleus , nucleus , solitary tract , central nucleus of the amygdala , neuroscience , amygdala , retrograde tracing , solitary nucleus , stimulation , biology , vagus nerve , anatomy , central nervous system , chemistry
Using retrograde tract‐tracing and electrophysiological methods, we characterized the anatomical and functional relationship between the central nucleus of the amygdala and the dorsal vagal complex. Retrograde tract‐tracing techniques revealed that the central nucleus of the amygdala projects to the dorsal vagal complex with a topographic distribution. Following injection of retrograde tracer into the vagal complex, retrogradely labelled neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala were clustered in the central portion at the rostral level and in the medial part at the middle level of the nucleus. Few labelled neurons were seen at the caudal level. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala altered the basal firing rates of 65 % of gut‐related neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract and in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Eighty‐one percent of the neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract and 47 % of the neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus were inhibited. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala also modulated the response of neurons in the dorsal vagal complex to gastrointestinal stimuli. The predominant effect on the neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract was inhibition. These results suggest that the central nucleus of the amygdala influences gut‐related neurons in the dorsal vagal complex and provides a neuronal circuitry that explains the regulation of gastrointestinal activity by the amygdala.