Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1997. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1997; 3(2): 72-74
Published online Jun 15, 1997. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v3.i2.72
Fos expression in catecholaminergic medullary neurons induced by chemical stimulation of stomach projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in rats
Yuan-Xiang Dong, Kang-Hui Xiong, Zhi-Ren Rao, Ji-Wu Shi
Yuan-Xiang Dong, Kang-Hui Xiong, Zhi-Ren Rao, Ji-Wu Shi, Department of Anatomy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China
Yuan-Xiang Dong, male, born on Feb. 5, 1950, Jianli County, Hubei Province, graduated from Department of Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, engaged in neuroanatomy study on the transmission and regulation of the viseral noceciptive information, having 18 papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 39370240.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yuan-Xiang Dong, Department of Anatomy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China
Telephone: +86-29-3231057 Fax: +86-29-3283229
Received: September 26, 1996
Revised: January 31, 1997
Accepted: March 1, 1997
Published online: June 15, 1997
Abstract

AIM: To determine whether medullary catecholaminergic neurons expressing Fos induced by chemical stimulation of the stomach project to the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVH) in rats.

METHODS: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was introduced stereotaxically into the PVH of rats. Histochemical analysis of coronal sections through the medulla were analyzed using triple-label immunohistochemistry to identify cells that were retrogradely labeled with HRP, Fos (ABC method), and tyrosin hydroxylase (TH) (PAP method).

RESULTS: Seven kinds of labeled neurons were found in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and the reticular formation (RF) of the medulla: Fos-like immunoreactive (FosLI) neurons, TH-like immunoreactive (TH-LI) neurons and HRP retrogradely single-labeled neurons, FosLI/HRP, FosLI/TH-LI and HRP/TH-LI double-labeled neurons, and FosLI/HRP/TH-LI triple-labeled neurons.

CONCLUSION: Ascending projections from the NTS, VLM and RF to the PVH might be involved in the transmitting process of visceral noxious stimulation.

Keywords: Medulla oblongata, Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, Neurons, Immunochemistry