Parasolitary Nucleus Research Articles

Immunohistochemical profiling of estrogen-related receptor gamma in rat brain and colocalization with estrogen receptor alpha in the preoptic area

Estrogen-related receptor (ERR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that has strong homology with estrogen receptor (ER) α. Despite the lack of endogenous ligands, ERR serves as transcription factors through their constitutively active structure with or without interaction with ERα. Among the three subtypes of ERR (α, β, and γ), ERRγ is highly expressed in brain, but the distribution of ERRγ is poorly characterized. Therefore, we investigated ERRγ immunoreactivity throughout the rostro-caudal axis in rat brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed localization of ERRγ protein in the cell nucleus, and a ubiquitous distribution of ERRγ in brain regions including the olfactory bulb, cerebrum, brain stem, and cerebellum. Selective intense immunoreactivity was observed in the reticular thalamic nucleus, zona incerta, circular nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, pontine nucleus, and parasolitary nucleus. Most ERRγ-immunoreactive (ir) regions were also positive for ERα and/or ERβ, which suggests that ERRγ is involved in modulation of estrogen signaling in adult rat brain. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated colocalization of ERRγ with ERα within the anteroventral periventricular nucleus of the preoptic area (AVPV) and medial preoptic nucleus (MPO), which are major target sites for estrogen action. The results of this study suggest that ERRγ function in the brain is affected by estrogens through an interaction with ERα. The findings also provide basic information on brain region-specific ERRγ function.

Fos expression in neurons of the rat vestibulo-autonomic pathway activated by sinusoidal galvanic vestibular stimulation.

The vestibular system sends projections to brainstem autonomic nuclei that modulate heart rate and blood pressure in response to changes in head and body position with regard to gravity. Consistent with this, binaural sinusoidally modulated galvanic vestibular stimulation (sGVS) in humans causes vasoconstriction in the legs, while low frequency (0.02–0.04 Hz) sGVS causes a rapid drop in heart rate and blood pressure in anesthetized rats. We have hypothesized that these responses occur through activation of vestibulo-sympathetic pathways. In the present study, c-Fos protein expression was examined in neurons of the vestibular nuclei and rostral ventrolateral medullary region (RVLM) that were activated by low frequency sGVS. We found c-Fos-labeled neurons in the spinal, medial, and superior vestibular nuclei (SpVN, MVN, and SVN, respectively) and the parasolitary nucleus. The highest density of c-Fos-positive vestibular nuclear neurons was observed in MVN, where immunolabeled cells were present throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the nucleus. c-Fos expression was concentrated in the parvocellular region and largely absent from magnocellular MVN. c-Fos-labeled cells were scattered throughout caudal SpVN, and the immunostained neurons in SVN were restricted to a discrete wedge-shaped area immediately lateral to the IVth ventricle. Immunofluorescence localization of c-Fos and glutamate revealed that approximately one third of the c-Fos-labeled vestibular neurons showed intense glutamate-like immunofluorescence, far in excess of the stain reflecting the metabolic pool of cytoplasmic glutamate. In the RVLM, which receives a direct projection from the vestibular nuclei and sends efferents to preganglionic sympathetic neurons in the spinal cord, we observed an approximately threefold increase in c-Fos labeling in the sGVS-activated rats. We conclude that localization of c-Fos protein following sGVS is a reliable marker for sGVS-activated neurons of the vestibulo-sympathetic pathway.

What Does Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Actually Activate?

What Does Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Actually Activate?

Perinatal Exposure to Weak Magnetic Fields Delays the Asymmetry Ontogeny of Astroglia in the Parasolitary Nucleus: Implications for Sudden Infant Death

Perinatal Exposure to Weak Magnetic Fields Delays the Asymmetry Ontogeny of Astroglia in the Parasolitary Nucleus: Implications for Sudden Infant Death

A knock-in reporter mouse model for Batten disease reveals predominant expression of Cln3 in visual, limbic and subcortical motor structures

Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) or Batten disease is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder of children caused by mutation in CLN3. JNCL is characterized by progressive visual impairment, cognitive and motor deficits, seizures and premature death. Information about the localization of CLN3 expressing neurons in the nervous system is limited, especially during development. The present study has systematically mapped the spatial and temporal localization of CLN3 reporter neurons in the entire nervous system including retina, using a knock-in reporter mouse model. CLN3 reporter is expressed predominantly in post-migratory neurons in visual and limbic cortices, anterior and intralaminar thalamic nuclei, amygdala, cerebellum, red nucleus, reticular formation, vestibular nuclei and retina. CLN3 reporter in the nervous system is mainly expressed during the first postnatal month except in the dentate gyrus, parasolitary nucleus and retina, where it is still strongly expressed in adulthood. The predominant distribution of CLN3 reporter neurons in visual, limbic and subcortical motor structures correlates well with the clinical symptoms of JNCL. These findings have also revealed potential target brain regions and time periods for future investigations of the disease mechanisms and therapeutic intervention.

Geophysical variables and behavior: XCIX. Reductions in numbers of neurons within the parasolitary nucleus in rats exposed perinatally to a magnetic pattern designed to imitate geomagnetic continuous pulsations: implications for sudden infant death.

Correlational analyses have shown a moderate strength association between the occurrence of continuous pulsations, a type of geomagnetic activity within the 0.2-Hz to 5-Hz range, and the occurrence of Sudden Infant Deaths. In the present study, rats were exposed continuously from two days before birth to seven days after birth to 0.5-Hz pulsed-square wave magnetic fields whose intensities were within either the nanoTesla or microTesla range. The magnetic fields were generated in either an east-west (E-W) or north-south (N-S) direction. At 21 days of age, the area of the parasolitary nucleus (but not the solitary nucleus) was significantly smaller, and the numbers of neurons were significantly less in rats that had been exposed to the nanoT fields generated in the east-west direction or to the microTesla fields generated within either E-W or N-S direction relative to those exposed to the N-S nanoTesla fields. These results suggest nanoTesla magnetic fields, when applied in a specific direction, might interact with the local geomagnetic field to affect cell migration in structures within the brain stem that modulate vestibular-related arousal and respiratory or cardiovascular stability.

Vestibular Signals in the Parasolitary Nucleus

Vestibular primary afferents project to secondary vestibular neurons located in the vestibular complex. Vestibular primary afferents also project to the uvula-nodulus of the cerebellum where they terminate on granule cells. In this report we describe the physiological properties of neurons in a "new" vestibular nucleus, the parasolitary nucleus (Psol). This nucleus consists of 2,300 GABAergic neurons that project onto the ipsilateral inferior olive (beta-nucleus and dorsomedial cell column) as well as the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis. These olivary neurons are the exclusive source of vestibularly modulated climbing fiber inputs to the cerebellum. We recorded the activity of Psol neurons during natural vestibular stimulation in anesthetized rabbits. The rabbits were placed in a three-axis rate table at the center of a large sphere, permitting vestibular and optokinetic stimulation. We recorded from 74 neurons in the Psol and from 23 neurons in the regions bordering Psol. The activity of 72/74 Psol neurons and 4/23 non-Psol neurons was modulated by vestibular stimulation in either the pitch or roll planes but not the horizontal plane. Psol neurons responded in phase with ipsilateral side-down head position or velocity during sinusoidal stimulation. Approximately 80% of the recorded Psol neurons responded to static roll-tilt. The optimal response planes of evoked vestibular responses were inferred from measurement of null planes. Optimal response planes usually were aligned with the anatomical orientation of one of the two ipsilateral vertical semicircular canals. The frequency dependence of null plane measurements indicated a convergence of vestibular information from otoliths and semicircular canals. None of the recorded neurons evinced optokinetic sensitivity. These results are consistent with the view that Psol neurons provide the vestibular signals to the inferior olive that eventually reached the cerebellum in the form of modulated climbing fiber discharges. These signals provide information about spatial orientation about the longitudinal axis.

Regional and cellular distribution of protein kinase C in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Protein kinase C (PCK) is a family of isoforms that are implicated in subcellular signal transduction. The authors investigated the distribution of several PKC isoforms (PKC-alpha, PKC-beta, PKC-gamma, PKC-delta, and PKC-epsilon) within major cerebellar cell types as well as cerebellar projection target neurons, including Purkinje neurons, cerebellar nuclear neurons, and secondary vestibular neurons. PKC-alpha, PKC-beta, PKC-gamma, PKC-delta, and PKC-epsilon are found within the cerebellum. Of these isoforms, PKC-gamma and PKC-delta are highly expressed in Purkinje cells. PKC-gamma is expressed in all Purkinje cells, whereas the expression of PKC-delta is restricted to sagittal bands of Purkinje cells in the posterior cerebellar cortex. In the lower folia of the uvula and nodulus, Purkinje cell expression of PKC-delta is uniformly high, and the sagittal banding for PKC-delta expression is absent. Within the cerebellar nuclei, PKC-delta-immunolabeled axons terminate within the medial aspect of the caudal half of the ipsilateral interpositus nucleus. PKC delta-immunolabeled axons also terminated within the caudal medial and descending vestibular nuclei (MVN and DVN, respectively), the parasolitary nucleus (Psol), and the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (NPH). PKC-gamma-immunolabeled axons terminated in all of the cerebellar nuclei as well as in the lateral and superior vestibular nuclei and the MVN, DVN, Psol, and NPH. The projection patterns of PKC-immunolabeled Purkinje cells were confirmed by lesion-depletion studies in which unilateral uvula-nodular lesions caused depletion of PKC-immunolabeled terminals ipsilateral to the lesion in the vestibular complex. These data identify circuitry that is unique to cerebellar-vestibular interactions.

Distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA-containing neurons in rat medulla projecting to thoracic spinal cord in relation to monoaminergic brainstem neurons

Recent neurophysiological work has suggested the existence of monosynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) projections from the medulla oblongata to sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The purpose of the present study was to identify the possible anatomical location of these neurons. The location of GABAergic neurons with projection to the thoracic spinal cord was studied by using in situ hybridization for both 65-kD and 67-kD isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA (GAD-65 and GAD-67, respectively) combined with midthoracic spinal cord injections of the tracer Fast Blue. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or tryptophan hydroxylase immunohistochemistry was combined with GAD mRNA detection and Fast Blue to determine whether any bulbospinal catecholaminergic or serotonergic cell groups in the medulla also are GABAergic. GAD-67 and GAD-65 mRNA-containing neurons had similar distribution patterns in the medulla oblongata, with some areas exhibiting lighter labeling for GAD-65 mRNA. GABAergic bulbospinal neurons were located in the caudal part of the solitary nucleus, the parasolitary nucleus, the vestibular nuclei, the ventral medial medulla, the raphe nuclei, and parapyramidal areas. TH-immunoreactive neurons in the A1, A2, C1, and C2 areas or the area postrema did not contain either GAD-67 or GAD-65 mRNA. GAD mRNA-positive bulbospinal cells were present medial to theA1 and C1 catecholaminergic cell groups, with little or no overlap. Serotonergic neurons positive for GAD mRNAwere found in the parapyramidal area and just dorsal to the pyramidal tract in the raphe magnus. This population included bulbospinal neurons. In conclusion, GABAergic neurons with projections to the thoracic spinal cord exist in a restricted number of medullary nuclei from which inhibitory sympathetic control may originate.

Parasolitary nucleus: A source of GABAergic vestibular information to the inferior olive of rat and rabbit

At least two subnuclei of the inferior olive, the beta-nucleus, and the dorsomedial cell column (dmcc), contain vestibularly responsive neurons that receive a dense descending projection that uses gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as the transmitter. In contrast to the GABAergic innervation of other olivary subnuclei, the terminal boutons that terminate on neurons in the beta-nucleus and the dorsomedial cell column remain intact after cerebellectomy, ruling out both the cerebellum and the cerebellar nuclei as afferent sources. By using both immunohistochemical as well as orthograde and retrograde tracer methods, we have identified the source of the GABAergic pathway to the beta-nucleus and dmcc in both rat and rabbit. Under physiologic recording of single olivary neurons to guide electrode placement, we injected the bidirectional tracer, wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the beta-nucleus and dmcc of the inferior olive. These injections retrogradely labeled neurons in the parasolitary nucleus (Psol) near the vestibular complex. Psol neurons were identified as GABAergic with an antibody to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). In the rat, Psol neurons are small (5-7 microm in diameter) and number approximately 1,800. In the rabbit, they are slightly larger (6-9 microm in diameter) and number approximately 2,200. WGA-HRP injections in conjunction with GAD immunohistochemistry double labeled a high percentage of neurons in both the rat and rabbit Psol. Injection of the orthograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin into the area of the Psol revealed a projection from this region to both the beta-nucleus and dmcc. Subtotal electrolytic lesions of this division of the Psol caused a substantial reduction in GAD-positive synaptic terminals in both the ipsilateral beta-nucleus and dmcc. The location of these GABAergic neurons, bordering both the nucleus solitarius and caudal vestibular complex, emphasizes the importance of the Psol in the processing of both vestibular and autonomic information pertinent to postural control.

Gracile projection to the cat medial accessory olive: Ultrastructural termination patterns and convergence with spino‐olivary projection

The caudal medial accessory subdivision of the inferior olive (cMAO) receives information from the hindlimb from both the gracile nucleus and the lumbosacral spinal cord. This study determined which elements in cMAO serve as the postsynaptic targets of the gracile projection and whether these elements also receive input from the lumbosacral spinal cord. Gracile axons were labeled in cats by anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), visualized with tetramethylbenzidine. Convergence of gracile and lumbosacral axons was evaluated by labeling in the same animal, one pathway by WGA-HRP and the other by degeneration. In cMAO, gracile axons synapse with equal probability on dendritic spines and distal dendritic shafts. This termination pattern contrasts markedly with that of other somatosensory inputs to the inferior olive and may account for the greater heterogeneity in responses to somatosensory stimuli displayed by neurons in cMAO. The distal dendritic shafts receiving gracile input were more likely than dendritic spines to receive convergent input from putative inhibitory synapses. The most likely source of these inhibitory synapses is the parasolitary nucleus, a structure that has been shown by others to receive input from the cerebellum. Thus the parasolitary nucleus may serve as an inhibitory relay between the cerebellum and cMAO. The dendritic spines in cMAO that receive input from the gracile nucleus often receive additional input from the lumbosacral spinal cord. This convergence of somatosensory axons on dendritic spines may provide a mechanism through which the unusually complex receptive fields of neurons in cMAO are generated.

A respiratory-vocal pathway in the brainstem of the pigeon

To provide an anatomical basis for the interaction of respiration and vocalization, neuroanatomical tracing experiments were undertaken to define the link between the nucleus receiving input from the lung and the tracheosyringeal motor nucleus (nXIIts). The ventral parabrachial nucleus (PBv) receives a projection from the lateral parasolitary nucleus and from the midbrain and projects to nXIIts. The PBv is therefore well placed to gate the activity of nXIIts neurons during respiration.

Afferent Connections of Nervus facialis and Nervus glossopharyngeus in the Pigeon <i>(Columba livia) </i>and Their Role in Feeding Behavior

The afferent connections of the facial nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve in the pigeon have been studied with the Fink-Heimer I method after ganglion lesions. The nucleus ventrolateralis anterior of the solitary complex and an indistinct cell group S VII medial to the nucleus interpolaris of the descending trigeminal tract are the terminal fields for facial afferents. The n. ventrolateralis anterior also receives an important projection from the distal glossopharyngeal ganglion. Other projection areas of this ganglion are the n. presulcalis , n. centralis anterior, n. intermedius anterior and the parasolitary nucleus. Both ganglia have only ipsilateral projections. A lesion in the jugular ganglion complex causes degeneration throughout the ipsilateral solitary complex, in the contralateral n. commissuralis and n. centralis posterior and in the n. cuneatus externus. The lack of a substantial contribution to the trigeminal system is ascribed to the absence of mechanoreceptors in the tongue. The implications for the organization of neuronal pathways related to the feeding behavior are discussed.