The distributions and morphological characteristics of neurons displaying immunoreactivity to the catecholamine synthetic enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase[TH], dopamine-beta-hydroxylase[DBH], and phenyletha-nolamine-N-methyltransferase[PNMT] were examined in the adjacent sections of the diencephalon of the striped field mouse [Apodemus agrarius coreae].Only TH-, and no DBH- or PNMT-immunoreactive neurons were found in the diencephalon. In the preoptic area, TH-immunoreactive neurons were found in the anterior preoptic nucleus of Loo[APN], periventricular preoptic nucleus, medial preoptic nucleus, lateral preoptic nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus. In the hypothalamus, TH-immunoreactive neurons were found in theparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, periventricular gray, retrochiasmatic area,anterior hypothalamic nucleus of anterior hypothalamic area and retrochiasmatic region of the hypothalamus. In the rostral tuberal region of the hypothalamus, TH-immunoreactive neurons were found in the paraventricular nucleus, periventricular gray and arcuate nucleus. In the midtuberal region of the hypothalamus, TH-immunoreactive neurons were found in the paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, zona incerta and arcuate nucleus. In the caudal tuberal region of the hypothalamus, dorsal hypothalamic nucleus, posterior hypothalamic complex and arcuate nucleus.
Animals ; Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Diencephalon* ; Dopaminergic Neurons* ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Neurons ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Preoptic Area ; Subthalamus ; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ; Tyrosine

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neuropeptide, isolated from porcine brain that is homologous with atriopeptin. Magnocellular neurosecretory cells located in the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus synthesize and secrete neurohormones. The purpose of this study was to investigate distribution of BNP immunoreactivity throughout the rat hypothalamus from the day of birth to 30 days and adult using immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining. The first BNP immunoreactive neurons appeared in the paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus at P10. In adult, BNP immunoreactivity was widely distributed throughout regions of the hypothalamus including dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus and internal layer of median eminence. The intensity of BNP immunoreactivity was weak in almost all hypothalamic nuclei except the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. BNP immunoreactivity was first observed in the lateral hypothalamic area at P15. In retrochiasmatic supraoptic nucleus, BNP immunoreactivity was first observed at P20 and remarkably distributed in adult. In the present study, distinct localization of BNP immunoreactivity was in the hypothalamic cell bodies and fibers. Although the role of BNP in the brain is yet to be determined, these results indicate that BNP in the neurons of hypothalamus play important role in the regulation of a variety of neurosecretory functions as a neuromodulator during postnatal development of the hypothalamus.
Adult ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Brain* ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Hypothalamus* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Median Eminence ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptides ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neuropeptide, isolated from porcine brain that is homologous with atriopeptin. Magnocellular neurosecretory cells located in the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus synthesize and secrete neurohormones. The purpose of this study was to investigate distribution of BNP immunoreactivity throughout the rat hypothalamus from the day of birth to 30 days and adult using immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining. The first BNP immunoreactive neurons appeared in the paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus at P10. In adult, BNP immunoreactivity was widely distributed throughout regions of the hypothalamus including dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus and internal layer of median eminence. The intensity of BNP immunoreactivity was weak in almost all hypothalamic nuclei except the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. BNP immunoreactivity was first observed in the lateral hypothalamic area at P15. In retrochiasmatic supraoptic nucleus, BNP immunoreactivity was first observed at P20 and remarkably distributed in adult. In the present study, distinct localization of BNP immunoreactivity was in the hypothalamic cell bodies and fibers. Although the role of BNP in the brain is yet to be determined, these results indicate that BNP in the neurons of hypothalamus play important role in the regulation of a variety of neurosecretory functions as a neuromodulator during postnatal development of the hypothalamus.
Adult ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Brain* ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Hypothalamus* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Median Eminence ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptides ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus

The presence and coexistence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-diaphorase) with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was investigated by combining NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry with TH immunohistochemistry in hypothalamic nuclei of the rat. TH-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were found in the medial preoptic area and medial preoptic nucleus, anterior hypothalamic area, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and posterior hypothalamic area, respectively. TH and NADPH-diaphorase did not coexist in the anterior hypothalamic area, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, medial preoptic area and posterior hypothalamic area. A considerable portion (30~50%) of the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the supraoptic nucleus colocalized TH. In the medial preoptic area and paraventricular nucleus, some (5~15%) of TH-immunoreactive neurons also contained NADPH-diaphorase activity. NADPH-diaphorase is known to be an indicator of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase; these results therefore suggest that nitric oxide may play an important role in the regulation of the activity of the hypothalamic dopaminergic system of the rat.
Animals ; Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; NAD* ; Neurons* ; Niacinamide* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Preoptic Area ; Rats* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine*

AIMTo explore whether dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) is involved in the cardiovascular responses induced by habenular nucleus (Hb) stimulation and inhibitory effect of deep peroneal nerve (DPN) stimulation on above responses or not and to analysis transmitter mechanism.

METHODSExperiments were performed on white male rabbits anesthetised with chloralose and urethan. Experimental data were collected by means of stimulating Hb and DPN, recording arterial blood pressure and ectal electrocardiogram (EECG) and microinjecting transmitter blocker.

RESULTSProminent pressor and ischemic EECG segment changes were elicited by Hb stimulation (P < 0.01) Microinjecting kynurenic acid into ipsilateral DMH had partial blocking effect on pressor and ischemic EECG-ST segment changes induced by Hb stimulation (P < 0.01). Stimulation of bilateral DPN prominently inhibited the pressor and ischemic EECG-ST changes induced by Hb stimulation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Microinjecting naloxone into ipsilateral DMH decreased the inhibitory effect of DPN stimulation on above cardiovascular responses elicited by Hb stimulation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGlutamic acid receptor in DMH is involved in pressor and ischemic changes induced by Hb stimulation. DMH and opiate peptide receptors in DMH are involved in the inhibitory effect of DPN stimulation on pressor and ischemic changes induced by Hb stimulation.

Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrocardiography ; Habenula ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; Male ; Peroneal Nerve ; physiology ; Rabbits

This experimental studies was to investigate the location of CNS labeled neurons following injection of pseudorabies virus (PRV), Bartha strain, into the rat thymus. After survival times of 96~120 hours following injection of PRV, the rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned(30micrometer). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope The results were as follows: 1. The PRV labeled spinal cord segments projecting to the rat thymus were founded in cervical and thoracic segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina V, VII, X, intermediolateral nucleus and dorsal nucleus. 2. In the rhombencephalon, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the thymus were founded in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventro-lateral reticular nucleus, medullary reticular nucleus, area postrema, nucleus solitary tract, nucleus raphe obscurus, nucleus raphe pallidus, nucleus raphe magnus, gigantocellular reticular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and spinal trigeminal nucleus. 3. In the mesencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in parabrachial nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, central gray matter, substantia nigra, nucleus dorsal raphe, A8 dopamin cells of retrorubral field, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus and A5 noradrenalin cells. 4. In the prosencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in reuniens thalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, precommissural nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus, preoptic hypothalamic nucleus, retrochiasmatic area, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. These results suggest that PRV labeled neurons of the spinal cord projecting to the rat thymus might be the neurons related to the viscero-somatic sensory and sympathetic preganglionic neurons, and PRV labeled neurons of the brain may be the neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle in blood vessels. These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory system monitoring the internal environment. These observations provide evidence for previously unknown projections from spinal cord and brain to the thymus which may be play an important role in the regulation of thymic function.
Animals ; Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Arcuate Nucleus ; Area Postrema ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid* ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Immunohistochemistry ; Locus Coeruleus ; Mesencephalon ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Prosencephalon ; Pseudorabies* ; Rats* ; Reflex ; Rhombencephalon ; Spinal Cord ; Substantia Nigra ; Thymus Gland* ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal ; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus