大鼠前庭核向迷走神经背侧复合体的间接投射

目的：研究大鼠前庭核向迷走神经背侧复合体的间接投射，探索前庭信息向脑干呕吐区传递的神经通路。方法：向前庭神经下核和前庭神经内侧核注入顺行追踪剂菜豆凝集素（PHA-L），向迷走神经背侧复合体注入逆行追踪剂荧光金（FG），用免疫荧光组织化学方法显示PHA-L顺行标记纤维和终末，在荧光显微镜下观察顺行标记PHA-L的纤维和终末与FG逆行标记的细胞重叠区域。结果：在延髓外侧巨细胞旁核和腹外侧区有顺行纤维和终末与逆行标记细胞的重叠。结论：前庭核团可能经外侧巨细胞旁核和腹外侧区向迷走神经背侧复合体有间接投射，为进一步揭示前庭核团与呕吐相关的内脏反应区之间的功能关系提供了形态学基础。

Indirect projection from vestibular nucleus to dorsal vagal complex in rats

Objective: To investigate the indirect projection from the vestibular nucleus to the dorsal vagal complex, so as to reveal the pathway from which the signal from the vestibular area transmitting to the emetic center in the brainstem in rats. Methods: Anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leuco-agglutinin (PHA-L) was injected into the inferior vestibular nucleus or medial veslib-ular nucleus and the retrograde tracer Fluorogold (FG) was injected into the dorsal vagal complex, and then the PHA-L labelled fibers and terminals were visualized by the immunofluorescence techniques. The overlapping area of the PHA-L-labelled fibers and FG-labelled neurons were detected under the fluorescent microscopy. Results: The overlapping area of the PHA-L-labelled fibers and terminals and FG-labelled neurons were found only in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and ventrolateral medulla. Conclusion : The lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and ventrolateral medulla oblongata may serve as an important relay and integrative structure for the indirect projection from the vestibular nucleus to the dorsal vagal complex. The results of the present study may be helpful for elucidating the functional relationship between the vestibular nucleus and emetic area in the brainstem.