Visualization of stress-responsive inhibitory circuits in the GAD65-eGFP transgenic mice

Here, we have revealed that a subset of GABAergic neurons in the mouse brain became activated during systemic stress response. Stress-induced expression of immediate early gene product c-Fos, as a marker of neuronal activation was visualized in a transgenic mouse line expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the regulatory region of mouse glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 gene. In most GABAergic regions egfp transgene expression corresponded to acknowledged distribution of GABA neurons. Ether inhalation, as a strong systemic stressor induced c-Fos expression throughout the stress-related circuit, and did not affect the distribution and expression of the eGFP-transgene. Stress provoked strong neuronal activation in the piriform cortex, midline thalamic nuclei, lateral septum (LS), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and in parvocellular part of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) as revealed by c-Fos immunfluorescence. Cells in the LS, BNST, and AHA including the subparaventricular zone (SPVZ) displayed significant eGFP/c-Fos co-localization, revealing stress-responsive GABAergic neurons. None of the stress-activated neurons within the medial parvocellular subdivision of the PVN were GABAergic. Our present results suggest that stress-recruited GABAergic neuron populations are preferentially located in distinct limbic and hypothalamic regions and these neurons might be involved in an inhibitory mechanism that counteract the endocrine, autonomic and behavioral aspects of the stress response. Furthermore, the present GAD65-eGFP transgenic model seems to be a relevant tool to analyze inhibitory control of the central stress circuit at single cell level.     

Distribution and neurochemical characterization of protein kinase C-theta and -delta in the rodent hypothalamus

PKC-theta (PKC-θ), a member of the novel protein kinase C family (nPKC), regulates a wide variety of functions in the periphery. However, its presence and role in the CNS has remained largely unknown. Recently, we demonstrated the presence of PKC-θ in the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus (ARC) and knockdown of PKC-θ from the ARC protected mice from developing diet-induced obesity. Another isoform of the nPKC group, PKC-delta (PKC-δ), is expressed in several non-hypothalamic brain sites including the thalamus and hippocampus. Although PKC-δ has been implicated in regulating hypothalamic glucose homeostasis, its distribution in the hypothalamus has not previously been described. In the current study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the distribution of PKC-θ and -δ immunoreactivity in rat and mouse hypothalamus. We found PKC-θ immunoreactive neurons in several hypothalamic nuclei including the ARC, lateral hypothalamic area, perifornical area and tuberomammillary nucleus. PKC-δ immunoreactive neurons were found in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. Double-label immunohistochemisty in mice expressing green fluorescent protein either with the long form of leptin receptor (LepR-b) or in orexin (ORX) neurons indicated that PKC-θ is highly colocalized in lateral hypothalamic ORX neurons but not in lateral hypothalamic LepR-b neurons. Double-label immunohistochemistry in oxytocin-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein mice or arginine vasopressin-enhanced green fluorescent protein (AVP-EGFP) transgenic rats revealed a high degree of colocalization of PKC-δ within paraventricular and supraoptic oxytocin neurons but not the vasopressinergic neurons. We conclude that PKC-θ and -δ are expressed in different hypothalamic neuronal populations.     

Distribution of apelin-synthesizing neurons in the adult rat brain

The peptide apelin originating from a larger precursor preproapelin molecule has been recently isolated and identified as the endogenous ligand of the human orphan G protein-coupled receptor, APJ (putative receptor protein related to the angiotensin receptor AT(1)). We have shown recently that apelin and apelin receptor mRNA are expressed in brain and that the centrally injected apelin fragment K17F (Lys(1)-Phe-Arg-Arg-Gln-Arg-Pro-Arg-Leu-Ser-His-Lys-Gly-Pro-Met-Pro-Phe(17)) decreased vasopressin release and altered drinking behavior. Using a specific polyclonal antiserum against K17F for immunohistochemistry, the aim of the present study was to establish the precise topographical distribution of apelin immunoreactivity in colchicine-treated adult rat brain. Immunoreactivity was essentially detected in neuronal cell bodies and fibers throughout the entire neuroaxis in different densities. Cells bodies have been visualized in the preoptic region, the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei and in the highest density, in the arcuate nucleus. Apelin immunoreactive cell bodies were also seen in the pons and the medulla oblongata. Apelin nerve fibers appear more widely distributed than neuronal apelin cell bodies. The hypothalamus represented, by far, the major site of apelin-positive nerve fibers which were found in the suprachiasmatic, periventricular, dorsomedial, ventromedial nuclei and in the retrochiasmatic area, with the highest density in the internal layer of the median eminence. Fibers were also found innervating other circumventricular organs such as the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis, the subfornical and the subcommissural organs and the area postrema. Apelin was also detected in the septum and the amygdala and in high density in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, the periaqueductal central gray matter and dorsal raphe nucleus, the parabrachial and Barrington nuclei in the pons and in the nucleus of the solitary tract, lateral reticular, prepositus hypoglossal and spinal trigeminal nuclei.The topographical distribution of apelinergic neurons in the brain suggests multiple roles for apelin especially in the central control of ingestive behaviors, pituitary hormone release and circadian rhythms.     

大鼠下丘脑内神经激肽B受体阳性神经元向孤束核的直接投射

为了研究神经激可能的升压途径，用免疫荧光组织化学方法结合荧光金逆行追踪技术 下丘脑内神经激肽Ｂ受体阳性神经元向孤束核的投射。     

Area postrema lesions attenuate LiCl-induced c-Fos expression correlated with conditioned taste aversion learning

Lesions of the area postrema (AP) block many of the behavioral and physiological effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) in rats, including formation of conditioned taste aversions (CTAs). Systemic administration of LiCl induces c-Fos immunoreactivity in several brain regions, including the AP, nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), lateral parabrachial nucleus (latPBN), supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). To determine which of these brain regions may be activated in parallel with the acquisition of LiCl-induced CTAs, we disrupted CTA learning in rats by ablating the AP and then quantified c-Fos-positive cells in these brain regions in sham- and AP-lesioned rats 1 h following LiCl or saline injection. Significant c-Fos induction after LiCl was observed in the CeA and SON of AP-lesioned rats, demonstrating activation independent of an intact AP. LiCl-induced c-Fos was significantly attenuated in the NTS, latPBN, PVN and CeA of AP-lesioned rats, suggesting that these regions are dependent on AP activation. Almost all of the lesioned rats showed some damage to the subpostremal NTS, and some rats also had damage to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; this collateral damage in the brainstem may have contributed to the deficits in c-Fos response. Because c-Fos induction in several regions was correlated with magnitude of CTA acquisition, these regions are implicated in the central mediation of lithium effects during CTA learning.     

Neuronal expression of Fos protein in the brain after intravenous injection of gastrin in rats.

The present study examined whether the central neurons are involved in the stimulatory action of gastrin on the secretion of gastric acid. Gastrin (20 microg), which was examined and ascertained to induce a marked increase in gastric acid secretion in gastric-lumen perfused rats, was intravenously injected in Wistar rats under anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium. In the experiments, 1 h after injecting gastrin, rats were perfused and fixed, the brain was removed and sectioned at 40 microm thickness. Every fourth section was treated with anti-c-Fos antiserum, and c-Fos protein was immunohistochemically stained using the avidin-biotin complex method. It was found that c-Fos protein was expressed in neurons of the lateral habenular nucleus, the central nucleus amygdala, the lateral parabrachial nucleus in the pons, and the complex area of the nucleus of the solitary tract and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in the medulla oblongata. The control rats were injected with saline solution, and the brain sections were processed similarly as described above. c-Fos protein was expressed in few neurons in the nuclei above in the control rats. These results suggest that gastrin released into the circulation might stimulate central neurons which, in turn, may relate to the control mechanism for the secretion of gastric acid.     

Expression of c-Fos-like immunoreactivity in the brain of mice with learned helplessness

The learned helplessness (LH) developed after repeat inescapable stress is a well validated animal model of human major depression and is not species specific. c-Fos, the protein product of the protooncogene c-fos, is expressed in neurons under a variety of stressors and could reflect the regional neuronal activation. Using the LH paradigm in mice, we examined c-Fos expression in several brain regions related to stress response or major depression. The LH mice showed significantly lower c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in the hippocampus dentate gyrus and the lateral septal nucleus, and higher FLI in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus compared with the naive mice. Our finding in the mice LH model supported previous studies in rats showing that the lateral septal nucleus and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus are important in LH behaviors. We further demonstrated that hippocampus dentate gyrus, a region important for learning and major depression, may also be involved in the LH behaviors. These related brain regions could provide a basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying LH behaviors.     

大鼠脑内星形胶质细胞对渗透压改变的反应及其和神经元的相互关系

为观察大鼠在饮用 3 % Na Cl溶液 2 d和 5 d时的脑内星形胶质细胞的反应变化及相互关系。本文应用免疫组织化学三重标记法 ,在脑原位切片同时显示 FOS、胶质原纤维酸性蛋白、酪氨酸羟化酶 (或加压素 )的表达、相互关系及分布规律。结果显示 :(1)实验组大鼠脑内孤束核、味觉核、臂旁核、蓝斑、导水管周围灰质的腹外侧区、上丘中灰层、下丘脑室旁核外侧大细胞部、视上核、和穹隆下器同时出现 FOS阳性神经元胞核和胶质原纤维酸性蛋白阳性星形胶质细胞。 (2 )在孤束核、蓝斑、下丘脑室旁核外侧大细胞部和视上核出现酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元 ,在下丘脑室旁核外侧大细胞部、下丘脑室旁核腹侧部和视上核等出现加压素阳性神经元。(3 )在孤束核、蓝斑、或下丘脑室旁核外侧大细胞部、视上核的三重免疫组化染色切片上见到胶质原纤维酸性蛋白阳性星形胶质细胞包绕 FOS阳性和酪氨酸羟化酶阳性 (或加压素阳性 )神经元 ,形成复合体。提示 :脑内相关核团内的星形胶质细胞与神经元共同参与对渗透压的调节 ,并以神经元—星形胶质细胞复合体作为功能单位     

Neuroanatomical distribution of the melanocortin-4 receptors in male and female rodent brain

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) plays a critical role in several physiological functions, from food intake, energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine and cardiovascular function, to sexual responses. The brain regions and the central neuronal pathways mediating the different actions of MC4-R remain largely unknown. We aimed to use immunocytochemistry using a specific antibody against rat MC4-R, to establish the detailed neuroanatomical distribution of MC4-R in brain slices of male and estrous female rats. We demonstrated that MC4-R-positive neurons were widely distributed in several brain regions including the cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, and brainstem. In both male and female brains, MC4-R-positive cells were especially abundant in the hypothalamus, including the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral septal nucleus, arcuate nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, medial preoptic area and lateral hypothalamic area. A moderate number of MC4-R-positive neurons were found in the piriform cortex, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial and basolateral nuclei of amygdala, periaqueductal gray, red nucleus and raphe nucleus. A dimorphic sexual difference in the number of MC4-R-positive neurons was observed in some brain regions. In the medial preoptic area and arcuate nucleus, MC4-R-positive neurons were significantly more abundant in female than in males, whereas in the lateral hypothalamus the opposite proportion was observed. This is the first time the neuroanatomical distribution, and sex differences, of brain MC4-R localisation have been described. The distribution of MC4-R is consistent with the proposed roles of MC4-R-positive neurons and provides further information about the circuitry controlling food intake, energy balance and sexual responses in both males and females.     

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase- and tyrosine hydroxylase- immunohistochemistry in the adult human hypothalamus

The distribution of cell bodies immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase was studied in the adult human hypothalamus. Many neurons in the posterior (A11) and caudal dorsal hypothalamic areas (A13) as well as in the arcuate (A12) and periventricular (A14) zone were immunoreactive for the two enzymes, suggesting that they were dopaminergic. Numerous tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons, which were not immunoreactive for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase, could be seen in the paraventricular, supraoptic and accessory nuclei (A15) as well as in the rostral dorsal hypothalamic area. These were considered to be non-dopaminergic. Conversely, large numbers of small neurons immunoreactive for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase but not for tyrosine hydroxylase, were identified in the premammillary nucleus (D8), zona incerta (D10), lateral hypothalamic area (D11), anterior portion of the dorsomedial nucleus (D12), suprachiasmatic nucleus (D13), medial preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (D14). In the human hypothalamus, besides dopaminergic cell bodies, there exists a large number of tyrosine hydroxylase-only and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase-only neurons, whose physiological roles remain to be determined.     

c-Fos expression in the supraoptic nucleus is the most intense during different durations of restraint water-immersion stress in the rat

Restraint water-immersion stress (RWIS) can induce anxiety, hypothermia, and severe vagally-mediated gastric dysfunction. The present work explored the effects of different durations of RWIS on neuronal activities of the forebrain by c-Fos expression in conscious rats exposed to RWIS for 0, 30, 60, 120, or 180 min. The peak of c-Fos induction was distinct for different forebrain regions. The most intense c-Fos induction was always observed in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), and then in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), posterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus (PCoA), central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Moreover, body temperature was reduced to the lowest degree after 60 min of RWIS, and the gastric lesions tended to gradually worsen with the prolonging of RWIS duration. These data strongly suggest that these nuclei participate in the organismal response to RWIS to different degrees, and may be involved in the hypothermia and gastric lesions induced by RWIS.     

Appearance of prolactin-releasing peptide-producing neurons in the area postrema of adrenalectomized rats

Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) was found to be a novel hypothalamic peptide that stimulates prolactin release in vitro and in vivo. In the normal adult rat brain, PrRP neurons are known to be located in only three areas, i.e. the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, ventrolateral reticular formation; and nucleus of the tractus solitarius in the medulla oblongata. These PrRP neurons project neurites into various brain areas, including regions such as the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Both PrRP nerve fibers and a high level of PrRP receptor, UHR-1, mRNA are observed in the area postrema (AP),but no PrRP neurons are detected in the AP of normal rats. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that PrRP-producing cells newly appeared in the AP of adrenalectomized rats by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Our results suggest that PrRP may have some important roles in the AP of adrenalectomized rats. This is the first report demonstrating the appearance of PrRP-positive cells in the AP.     

Enkephalin innervation of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus: distribution of fibers and origins of input

The opioid peptide enkephalin emerges as a major neuromodulator in the regulation and integration of the physiologic response in stressful conditions. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is a coordinating center of neuroendocrine and autonomic functions. However, the detailed distribution of the enkephalin fibers and terminals in the paraventricular nucleus and the sources of enkephalinergic innervation are not well defined. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry for the proenkephalin-derived octapeptide met-arg⁶-gly⁷-leu⁸ enkephalin to determine the distribution of enkephalin-immunoreactive fibers and somata within paraventricular nucleus. Without colchicine pretreatment, enkephalinergic fibers were prominent mainly in the ventromedial part of the parvicellular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus, appearing in coronal sections as a dense collection of short segments of enkephalin-immunoreactive fibers. In the periventricular portion of the paraventricular nucleus, enkephalin-immunoreactive fibers produced a moderate plexus of short enkephalin-immunoreactive fibers dorsoventrally oriented. With colchicine treatment, a dense cluster of enkephalin-immunoreactive cell bodies was located in the dorsomedial and the dorsal parts of the parvicellular subdivisions. These enkephalin-immunoreactive neurons were small (< 10 μm) to medium sized (10–15 μm), with round and elongated shapes. Retrograde transport of wheat germ-conjugated gold particles. WGA-apoHRP-Au, from the paraventricular nucleus, combined with immunocytochemistry for enkephalin revealed that the major sources of extrahypothalamic enkephalin afferents to the paraventricular nucleus are provided by enkephalin neurons neurons in the lateral reticular nucleus and the paragigantocellularis reticular nucleus of the medulla (20% of retrogradely labeled neurons within this nucleus were double labeled) and in the nucleus solitary tract (10% of retrogradely labeled neurons within thisnucleus were double labeled). Retrogradely labeled enkephalin neurons were also observed in the medial preoptic area, median preoptic nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, lateral septum and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. These enkephalinergic pathways from the medulla and the forebrain could represent an anatomical substrate underlying the opioid effects on paraventricular neurons during physiological processes, such as a cardiovascular regulation, feeding or stress responses.     

GABAA receptors expression pattern in rat brain following low pressure distension of the stomach

It is known that gastric mechanoreceptor stimuli are widely integrated into neuronal circuits that involve visceral nuclei of hindbrain as well as several central brain areas. GABAergic neurons are widely represented in hindbrain nuclei controlling gastric motor functions, but limited information is available specifically about GABA(A)-responding neurons in brain visceral areas. The present investigation was designed to determine the central sensory neuronal pathways and their GABA(A)-alpha1 and -alpha3 receptor presenting neurons that respond to gastric mechanoreceptor stimulation within the entire rat brain. Low pressure gastric distension was used to deliver physiological mechanical stimuli in anesthetized rats, and different protocols of gastric distension were performed to mimic different stimulation patterns with and without sectioning vagal and/or splanchnic afferent nerves. Mapping of activated neurons was investigated using double colorimetric immunohistochemistry for GABA(A)-alpha1 or -alpha3 subunits and c-Fos. Following stomach distension, neurons expressing GABA(A) receptors with alpha1 or alpha3 subunits were detected. Low frequency gastric distension induced c-Fos expression in nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) only, whereas in the high frequency gastric distension c-Fos positive nuclei were found in lateral reticular nucleus and in NTS in addition to some forebrain areas. In contrast, during the tonic-rapid gastric distension the neuronal activation was found in hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain areas. Moreover different protocols of gastric stimulation activated diverse patterns of neurons presenting GABA(A)-alpha1 or -alpha3 receptors within responding brain nuclei, which may indicate a probable functional significance of differential expression of GABA(A)-responding neurons. The same protocol of gastric distension performed in vagotomized rats has confirmed the primary role of the vagus in the response of activation of gastric brain areas, whereas neuronal input of splanchnic origins was shown to play an important role in modulating the mechanogastric response of brain areas.     

Mapping of somatostatin-28 (1-12) in the alpaca diencephalon

Using an immunocytochemical technique, we report for the first time the distribution of immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers containing somatostatin-28 (1-12) in the alpaca diencephalon. Somatostatin-28 (1-12)-immunoreactive cell bodies were only observed in the hypothalamus (lateral hypothalamic area, arcuate nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus). However, immunoreactive fibers were widely distributed throughout the thalamus and hypothalamus. A high density of such fibers was observed in the central medial thalamic nucleus, laterodorsal thalamic nucleus, lateral habenular nucleus, mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, reuniens thalamic nucleus, rhomboid thalamic nucleus, subparafascicular thalamic nucleus, anterior hypothalamic area, arcuate nucleus, dorsal hypothalamic area, around the fornix, lateral hypothalamic area, lateral mammilary nucleus, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, supraoptic hypothalamic nucleus, and in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. The widespread distribution of somatostatin-28 (1-12) in the thalamus and hypothalamus of the alpaca suggests that the neuropeptide could be involved in many physiological actions.     

Localization of hypothalamic insulin receptor in neonatal chicks: evidence for insulinergic system control of feeding behavior

Feeding behavior is managed by various neuropeptides and/or neurotransmitters within the central nervous system in vertebrates. It is proposed that central insulin acts as the negative-feedback regulator of appetite via the central melanocortin system in neonatal chicks. The present study investigated the localization of insulin receptors in the chick hypothalamus using immunohistochemistry. Immunostaining revealed hypothalamic neuron expressing insulin receptors in the paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamus and infundibular nucleus, the avian equivalent of the mammalian arcuate nucleus. Additionally, double-staining immunohistochemistry in the infundibular nucleus revealed the presence of insulin receptors in both α-melanocyto stimulating hormone and neuropeptide Y neurons. Immunohistological analysis indicates that the insulinergic system in the chick hypothalamus contributes to feeding behavior and this system regulates both anorexigenic and orexigenic neuropeptides. Furthermore, the mechanisms of central insulin induced-feeding behavior contributes to the regulation of the melanocortin system in the chick infundibular nucleus.     

Comparison of hypocretin/orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone neurons and axonal projections in the embryonic and postnatal rat brain

Hypocretin/orexin (H/O) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are peptide neuromodulators found in separate populations of neurons located within the lateral and perifornical hypothalamic regions. H/O has been linked to sleep-wakefulness regulation and to the sleep disorder narcolepsy, and both systems have been implicated in energy homeostasis, including the regulation of food intake. In the present study we compared the development of H/O and MCH-expressing neuronal populations with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry on adjacent sections in the embryonic and postnatal rat brain. We found that MCH mRNA and protein were present in developing neurons of the hypothalamus by embryonic day 16 (E16), whereas H/O mRNA and protein were not detected until E18. We also identified previously undescribed populations of MCH-immunoreactive cells in the lateral septum, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral zona incerta, and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus that may play a specific role in the development of these regions. MCH immunoreactive axonal processes were also evident earlier than H/O stained fibers and at the time H/O immunoreactive processes were first identified in the hypothalamus at E20, extensive MCH axonal fiber systems were already present in many brain regions. Interestingly, however, the density of axonal fibers immunoreactive for H/O in the locus coeruleus reached peak levels at the same developmental age (P21) as MCH immunoreactive axons in the diagonal band of Broca (DBB). The peak of axon density coincided with the developmental stage at which adult patterns of feeding and sleep-waking activity become established. The present results demonstrate developmental differences and similarities between the MCH and H/O systems that may relate to their respective roles in feeding and sleep regulation.     

颈部迷走神经干刺激对癫痫大鼠脑内Fos样表达的影响

目的 研究颈部迷走神经干刺激（VNS）抑制癫痫发作上传通路过程中的关键核团及相关脑区。方法 利用红藻氨酸（KA）诱发大鼠复杂部分性癫痫发作。并结合Fos免疫组织化学方法观察左颈部迷走神经干电刺激后全脑及延髓内Fos的分布及电刺激的影响。结果 VNS后脑干双侧孤束核、蓝斑、臂旁核、中脑导水管周围灰质有很强的特异性Fos表达，外侧缰核、丘脑室旁核、菱形核、下丘脑室旁核、杏仁中央核、终纹床核、隔外侧核、梨状皮质等脑区亦可见Fos阳性细胞。预先给予电刺激后海马、齿状回、额、顶、颞皮质区域Fos表达明显受到抑制。结论 VNS后Fos阳性的脑区及核团可能是电刺激发挥抑痫作用的关键部位，其神经元活性的改变或递质调节可能间接或直接影响大脑皮质的功能。     

雌性大鼠下丘脑5-羟色胺1A和2A受体亚型的定位分布

本研究应用免疫细胞化学技术观察了雌性成年SD大鼠下丘脑内5-HT1A受体亚型(5-HT1AR)和5-HT2AR免疫阳性结构的分布。结果显示:5-HT1AR免疫阳性神经元在视前区大细胞核、视前室周核、视上核和下丘脑外侧前核等核团内密集分布。在内侧视前核、外侧视前区、下丘脑室周核、下丘脑外侧区、背内侧核、腹内侧核、结节核、结节乳头体核、乳头体内侧核和乳头体外侧核等结构内也有较多的分布;而在正中视前核、视交叉上核、下丘脑室旁核、下丘脑背侧核、弓状核、乳头体上核和乳头体前核等部位有散在的分布。与5-HT1AR不同,5-HT2AR免疫阳性反应产物主要见于纤维和终末,阳性胞体少且染色淡。5-HT2AR阳性胞体见于下丘脑室旁核、视上核、腹内侧核、结节核、视前内侧区、外侧区、外侧前核、下丘脑背内侧核等处。另外,在视前区前内侧视前核、视交叉上核背侧和外侧可见围绕血管分布、密集成团簇状、带有大小不同膨体的阳性神经纤维缠结。本文结果提示5-HT1AR阳性结构广泛地分布于大鼠下丘脑,而5-HT2AR在下丘脑分布较为局限。二者不同的分布特点,提示它们可能介导5-HT在下丘脑的不同生理功能。