Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been reported to be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The amygdala may have an important role in regulating cardiovascular function. This study aims to explore the effect of amygdala glutamate receptors (GluRs) on cardiovascular activity in a rat model of PTSD. A compound stress method combining electrical stimulation and single prolonged stress was used to prepare the PTSD model, and the difference of weight gain before and after modeling and the elevated plus maze were used to assess the PTSD model. In addition, the distribution of retrogradely labeled neurons was observed using the FluoroGold (FG) retrograde tracking technique. Western blot was used to analyze the changes of amygdala GluRs content. To further investigate the effects, artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF), non-selective GluR blocker kynurenic acid (KYN) and AMPA receptor blocker CNQX were microinjected into the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in the PTSD rats, respectively. The changes in various indices following the injection were observed using in vivo multi-channel synchronous recording technology. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, the PTSD group exhibited significantly lower weight gain (P < 0.01) and significantly decreased ratio of open arm time (OT%) (P < 0.05). Retrograde labeling of neurons was observed in the CeA after microinjection of 0.5 µL FG in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). The content of AMPA receptor in the PTSD group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), while there was no significant differences in RVLM neuron firing frequency and heart rate (P > 0.05) following ACSF injection. However, increases in RVLM neuron firing frequency and heart rate were observed after the injection of KYN or CNQX into the CeA (P < 0.05) in the PTSD group. These findings suggest that AMPA receptors in the amygdala are engaged in the regulation of cardiovascular activity in PTSD rats, possibly by acting on inhibitory pathways.
Rats ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Receptors, AMPA ; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione/pharmacology* ; Receptors, Glutamate/metabolism* ; Amygdala ; Weight Gain ; Medulla Oblongata/physiology* ; Blood Pressure

Humans ; Child ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes/complications* ; Medulla Oblongata/pathology* ; Neoplasms/complications*

This paper introduces GAO Wei-bin's academic thought in treatment of medulla oblongata paralysis with acupuncture. Through analyzing the etiologies and locations of medulla oblongata paralysis, in accordance with "selecting the nearby acupoints of the affected area", the acupoints are selected from the nape region, the nape acupuncture therapy and the corresponding new points are developed. Based on the human anatomy of the nape region, the anatomic structures of new points (e.g. Gongxue, Tunyan-1, Tunyan-2, Fayin, Zhiqiang and Tiyan) and their effect mechanism are explained. The treatment principle, "distinguishing the symptoms from the root causes, mutual treatment for both symptoms and root causes", is proposed, and the importance of electric stimulation of nape acupuncture is suggested in treatment of medulla oblongata paralysis.
Humans ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive/therapy* ; Medulla Oblongata ; Paralysis

This study was aimed to investigate the cardiovascular function in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the potential association with the activities of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the medial habenular nucleus (MHb). Multi-channel in vivo recordings were used to simultaneously acquire spontaneous neuronal firing and peripheral physiological indices, and FluoroGold (FG) retrograde tracing technique was used to observe the projections of labeled neurons in the MHb. The results showed that the discharge frequency of RVLM and MHb neurons, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the PTSD group were all increased significantly compared with those in control group (P < 0.05). MHb neurons were retrogradely labeled by FG through microinjection (4% FG, 0.5 μL) into the RVLM. In the control group, electrical stimulation in the MHb increased heart rate (HR) at 100-300 μA (P < 0.05), elevated SBP and MAP at 200-300 μA (P < 0.05), and remarkably increased the RVLM neuronal discharge frequency at 100-500 μA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In the PTSD group, however, only the discharge frequency of RVLM neurons was increased by the electrical stimulation at 100-300 μA (P < 0.05). These results suggest that cardiovascular activities of the PTSD model rat are enhanced, and this change may be related to the activity changes of RVLM and MHb and the potential connection between the two nuclei.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Medulla Oblongata ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

The pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) residing in the ventrolateral medulla oblongata, is thought to be the kernel of respiratory rhythmogenesis. Episodic hypoxia exerts respiratory long-term facilitation, being recognized as electrophysiological characteristic of respiratory motor neuroplasticity. Our previous study demonstrated up-regulated expression of phospho-protein kinase C θ (P-PKCθ) in the pre-BötC of rats receiving chronic intermittent hypoxic (CIH) challenge. The present study was aimed to examine subcellular distribution of P-PKC substrates (P-PKCsub) and explore PKC down-stream targeting proteins in the pre-BötC in normoxic and CIH rats. Using neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) as a marker of the pre-BötC, P-PKCsub immunoreactivity was revealed by immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopic double-labeling in the pre-BötC. Western blot was applied to analyze P-PKCsub proteins in ventrolateral medulla, containing the pre-BötC. The results showed that NK1R immunoreactivity (NK1R-ir) was expressed mainly along plasma membranes of somata and processes, outlining pre-BötC neurons under the light microscope. P-PKCsub immunoreactive (P-PKCsub-ir) fluorophores in dot-like appearance appeared in somata and processes. Some were in close apposition to plasma membranes. A majority of P-PKCsub-ir neurons was found with NK1R-ir. CIH challenge up-regulated the expression of P-PKCsub proteins in the ventrolateral medulla. Under the electron microscope, NK1R-ir product was found to distribute along the inner membrane surfaces of somata and dendrites. P-PKCsub-ir gold particles were located in somata and dendrites, and some were distributed along the inner membrane surfaces, as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum and postsynaptic dense body. These results suggest that CIH challenge up-regulates the expression of P-PKCsub proteins, probably including some receptor proteins in the postsynaptic membrane, which may contribute to respiratory neuroplasticity via activation of PKCθ in the pre-BötC.
Animals ; Hypoxia ; Medulla Oblongata/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1/metabolism*

A boy, aged 2 years and 4 months, had a sudden onset of blepharoptosis of the right eyelid, accompanied by the mouth deviated to the right side, drinking cough, nystagmus, and developmental regression. Cranial MRI showed softening lesions formed after infarction of the right dorsolateral medulla oblongata, while head CT angiography showed no imaging of the proximal part of the V4 segment of the right vertebral artery. The child was diagnosed with dorsolateral medulla oblongata syndrome and was treated with gamma globulin to regulate immune function, with mannitol to reduce neuronal edema, with low-molecular-weight heparin sodium to improve local hypercoagulation of occluded blood vessels, with hyperbaric oxygen to improve local ischemia and hypoxia and promote the recovery of brain function, and with neuromuscular electrical stimulation to promote the recovery of neuromuscular function. Before discharge, only mild right ataxia and Horner syndrome remained. This article reports the first case of infantile dorsolateral medulla oblongata syndrome and provides experience for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Blepharoptosis/etiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Dysarthria/etiology* ; Humans ; Lateral Medullary Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata/diagnostic imaging*

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.
Animals ; Anorexia Nervosa ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Medulla Oblongata ; Neural Pathways ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Brain Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Vertebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord involvement of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare in a young immunocompetent patient and can be misdiagnosed as an inflammatory demyelinating disease (IDD) of the central nervous system.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cervical Cord ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Drug Therapy ; Electrons ; Hand ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medulla Oblongata ; Methotrexate ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of cricopharyngeal dysfunction (CPD), the frequency, and correlation with a brain lesion in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, and to provide basic data for developing a therapeutic protocol for dysphagia management. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a series of subjects post-stroke who underwent a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) from January 2009 to December 2015. VFSS images were recorded on videotape and analyzed. CPD was defined as the retention of more than 25% of residue in the pyriform sinus after swallowing. The location of the brain lesion was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Among the 262 dysphagic patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, 15 (5.7%) showed CPD on the VFSS. Patients with an infratentorial lesion had a significantly higher proportion of CPD than those with a supratentorial lesion (p=0.003), and lateral medullary infarction was identified as the single independent predictor of CPD (multivariable analysis: odds ratio=19.417; confidence interval, 5.560–67.804; p < 0.0001). Compared to patients without CPD, those with CPD had a significantly prolonged pharyngeal transit time, lower laryngeal elevation, and a higher pharyngeal constriction ratio and functional dysphagia scale score. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results support the notion that an impaired upper esopharyngeal opening is likely related to the specific locations of brain lesions. The association of CPD with lateral medullary infarction can be explained based on the regulation of the pharyngolaryngeal motor system by the motor neurons present in the dorsal nucleus ambiguus. Overall, the results reveal the relation between CPD and the problems in the pharyngeal phase as well as the severity of dysphagia.
Brain ; Constriction ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Medulla Oblongata ; Motor Neurons ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Pyriform Sinus ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Videotape Recording