Neural pathway between the nucleus accumbens and the rostral ventrolateral medulla in a rat model of anorexia nervosa.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2020.05.01
- VernacularTitle:神经性厌食症大鼠伏隔核与延髓头端腹外侧区的神经通路联系
- Author:
Wei WENWEN
1
;
W U QIONGBO
1
;
Zheng CHAO
2
;
Wang MENGYA
3
;
Zhang HUANHUAN
1
Author Information
1. Psychophysiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China.
2. Neurobiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China.
3. Cell Electrophysiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
anorexia nervosa;
cardiovascular function;
nucleus accumbens;
rostral ventrolateral medulla
- MeSH:
Animals;
Anorexia Nervosa;
Blood Pressure;
Disease Models, Animal;
Medulla Oblongata;
Neural Pathways;
Nucleus Accumbens;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2020;40(5):609-615
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the potential neural pathway connecting the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), and whether the pathway participates in the regulation of cardiovascular function in a model rat of anorexia nervosa (AN).
METHODS:Rat models of AN were established by allowing voluntary activity in a running wheel with restricted feeding, with the rats having free access to normal chow without exercise as the control group. FluoroGold (FG) retrograde tracing method and multi-channel simultaneous recording technique were used to explore the possible pathway between the NAc and the RVLM.
RESULTS:The rats in AN group exhibited significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) with significantly increased discharge frequency of RVLM neurons in comparison with the control rats. After the injection of FG into the RVLM, retrograde labeled neurons were observed in the NAc of the rats in both the normal control and AN groups. In both groups, SBP and HR were significantly decreased in response to 400 μA electrical stimulation of the NAc accompanied by an obvious increase in the discharge frequency of the RVLM neurons; the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and MAP were significantly lower in AN model rats than in the normal rats in response to the stimulation.
CONCLUSIONS:We successfully established a rat model of AN via hyperactivity and restricted feeding and confirm the presence of a neural pathway connecting the NAc and the RVLM. This pathway might participate in the regulation of cardiovascular function in AN model rats.
