Etude anatomique des circuits neuronaux intervenant dans le réflexe de clignement chez le rat

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Colliculus superieur et mouvement des paupières (mise en evidence de voies colliculo-faciale et colliculo-trigemino-faciale intervenant dans le réflexe de clignement chez le rat)

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Trigemino-solitarii-facial pathway in rats

International audienceThis study was undertaken to identify premotor neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) serving as relay neurons between the sensory trigeminal complex (STC) and the facial motor nucleus in rats. Trigemino-solitarii connections were first investigated following injections of anterograde and/or retrograde (biotinylated dextran amine, biocytin, or gold-HRP) tracers in STC or NTS. Trigemino-solitarii neurons were abundant in the ventral and dorsal parts of the STC and of moderate density in its intermediate part. They project throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the NTS with a strong lateral preponderance. Solitarii-trigeminal neurons were observed mostly in the rostral and rostrolateral NTS. They mainly project to the ventral and dorsal parts of the spinal trigeminal nucleus but not to the principal nucleus. Additional neurons located in the middle NTS were found to project exclusively to the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis. No solitarii-trigeminal cells were observed in the caudal NTS. In addition, evidence was obtained of NTS retrogradely labeled neurons contacted by anterogradely labeled trigeminal terminals. Second, solitarii-facial projections were analyzed following injections of anterograde and retrograde tracers into the NTS and the facial nucleus, respectively. NTS neurons, except those of the rostrolateral part, reached the dorsal aspect of the facial nucleus. Finally, simultaneous injections of anterograde tracer in the STC and retrograde tracer in the facial nucleus gave retrogradely labeled neurons in the NTS receiving contacts from anterogradely labeled trigeminal boutons. Thus, the present data demonstrate for the first time the existence of a trigemino-solitarii-facial pathway. This could account for the involvement of the NTS in the control of orofacial motor behaviors

Serotonergic projections from the nodose ganglia to the nucleus tractus solitarius: an immunohistochemical and double labeling study in the rat

International audiencePossible projections of serotonin (5-HT)-immunoreactive neurons in the nodose ganglia (NG) to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) were investigated in the rat using a double labeling method combining retrograde transport and 5-HT immunohistochemistry. After injection of a complex of colloidal gold-apo-horseradish peroxidase into the medio-caudal and commissural parts of the NTS, most of the 5-HT-immunoreactive neurons were found to be labelled by the gold complex. The present study provides direct evidence for the existence, in the rat, of a serotonergic NG-NTS system. This system may be involved in the regulation of blood pressure and vigilance states