Evidence of a Monosynaptic Pathway Between Cells of the Ventromedial Medulla and the Motoneuron Pool of the Thoracic Spinal Cord in Rat: Electron Microscopic Analysis of Synaptic Contacts

Central nervous system circuits that control body temperature

Maintenance of mammalian core body temperature within a narrow range is a fundamental homeostatic process to optimize cellular and tissue function, and to improve survival in adverse thermal environments. Body temperature is maintained during a broad range of environmental and physiological challenges by central nervous system circuits that process thermal afferent inputs from the skin and the body core to control the activity of thermoeffectors. These include thermoregulatory behaviors, cutaneous vasomotion (vasoconstriction and, in humans, active vasodilation), thermogenesis (shivering and brown adipose tissue), evaporative heat loss (salivary spreading in rodents, and human sweating). This review provides an overview of the central nervous system circuits for thermoregulatory reflex regulation of thermoeffectors.

Terminations of reticulospinal fibers originating from the gigantocellular reticular formation in the mouse spinal cord

The present study investigated the projections of the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (Gi) and its neighbors--the dorsal paragigantocellular reticular nucleus (DPGi), the alpha/ventral part of the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (GiA/V), and the lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus (LPGi)--to the mouse spinal cord by injecting the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the Gi, DPGi, GiA/GiV, and LPGi. The Gi projected to the entire spinal cord bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance. Its fibers traveled in both the ventral and lateral funiculi with a greater presence in the ventral funiculus. As the fibers descended in the spinal cord, their density in the lateral funiculus increased. The terminals were present mainly in laminae 7-10 with a dorsolateral expansion caudally. In the lumbar and sacral cord, a considerable number of terminals were also present in laminae 5 and 6. Contralateral fibers shared a similar pattern to their ipsilateral counterparts and some fibers were seen to cross the midline. Fibers arising from the DPGi were similarly distributed in the spinal cord except that there was no dorsolateral expansion in the lumbar and sacral segments and there were fewer fiber terminals. Fibers arising from GiA/V predominantly traveled in the ventral and lateral funiculi ipsilaterally. Ipsilaterally, the density of fibers in the ventral funiculus decreased along the rostrocaudal axis, whereas the density of fibers in the lateral funiculus increased. They terminate mainly in the medial ventral horn and lamina 10 with a smaller number of fibers in the dorsal horn. Fibers arising from the LPGi traveled in both the ventral and lateral funiculi and the density of these fibers in the ventral and lateral funiculi decreased dramatically in the lumbar and sacral segments. Their terminals were present in the ventral horn with a large portion of them terminating in the motor neuron columns. The present study is the first demonstration of the termination pattern of fibers arising from the Gi, DPGi, GiA/GiV, and LPGi in the mouse spinal cord. It provides an anatomical foundation for those who are conducting spinal cord injury and locomotion related research.

Neural pathways that control the glucose counterregulatory response

Glucose is an essential metabolic substrate for all bodily tissues. The brain depends particularly on a constant supply of glucose to satisfy its energy demands. Fortunately, a complex physiological system has evolved to keep blood glucose at a constant level. The consequences of poor glucose homeostasis are well-known: hyperglycemia associated with uncontrolled diabetes can lead to cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and nephropathy, while hypoglycemia can lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness, coma, and even death. The glucose counterregulatory response involves detection of declining plasma glucose levels and secretion of several hormones including glucagon, adrenaline, cortisol, and growth hormone (GH) to orchestrate the recovery from hypoglycemia. Low blood glucose leads to a low brain glucose level that is detected by glucose-sensing neurons located in several brain regions such as the ventromedial hypothalamus, the perifornical region of the lateral hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and in several hindbrain regions. This review will describe the importance of the glucose counterregulatory system and what is known of the neurocircuitry that underpins it.

Central efferent pathways for cold-defensive and febrile shivering

Shivering is a remarkable somatomotor thermogenic response that is controlled by brain mechanisms. We recorded EMGs in anaesthetized rats to elucidate the central neural circuitry for shivering and identified several brain regions whose thermoregulatory neurons comprise the efferent pathway driving shivering responses to skin cooling and pyrogenic stimulation. We simultaneously monitored parameters from sympathetic effectors: brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperature for non-shivering thermogenesis and arterial pressure and heart rate for cardiovascular responses. Acute skin cooling consistently increased EMG, BAT temperature and heart rate and these responses were eliminated by inhibition of neurons in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) with nanoinjection of muscimol. Stimulation of the MnPO evoked shivering, BAT thermogenesis and tachycardia, which were all reversed by antagonizing GABA(A) receptors in the medial preoptic area (MPO). Inhibition of neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) or rostral raphe pallidus nucleus (rRPa) with muscimol or activation of 5-HT1A receptors in the rRPa with 8-OH-DPAT eliminated the shivering, BAT thermogenic, tachycardic and pressor responses evoked by skin cooling or by nanoinjection of prostaglandin (PG) E2, a pyrogenic mediator, into the MPO. These data are summarized with a schematic model in which the shivering as well as the sympathetic responses for cold defence and fever are driven by descending excitatory signalling through the DMH and the rRPa, which is under a tonic inhibitory control from a local circuit in the preoptic area. These results provide the interesting notion that, under the demand for increasing levels of heat production, parallel central efferent pathways control the somatic and sympathetic motor systems to drive thermogenesis.

Activation of NMDA receptors in the brainstem, rostral ventromedial medulla, and nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis mediates mechanical hyperalgesia produced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic saline in rats

Repeated injections of acidic saline into the gastrocnemius muscle induce both muscle and cutaneous hypersensitivity. We have previously shown that microinjection of local anesthetic into either the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) or the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NGC) reverses this muscle and cutaneous hypersensitivity. Although prior studies show that NMDA receptors in the RVM play a clear role in mediating visceral and inflammatory hypersensitivity, the role of NMDA receptors in the NGC or in noninflammatory muscle pain is unclear. Therefore, the present study evaluated involvement of the NMDA receptors in the RVM and NGC in muscle and cutaneous hypersensitivity induced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic saline. Repeated intramuscular injections of acidic saline, 5 days apart, resulted in a bilateral decrease in the withdrawal thresholds of the paw and muscle in all groups 24 hours after the second injection. Microinjection of NMDA receptor antagonists into the RVM reversed both the muscle and cutaneous hypersensitivity. However, microinjection of NMDA receptor antagonists into the NGC only reversed cutaneous but not muscle hypersensitivity. These results suggest that NMDA receptors in the RVM mediate both muscle and cutaneous hypersensitivity, but those in the NGC mediate only cutaneous hypersensitivity after muscle insult.

PERSPECTIVE

The current study shows that NMDA receptors in supraspinal facilitatory sites maintain noninflammatory muscle pain. Clinical studies in people with chronic widespread, noninflammatory pain, similarly, show alterations in central excitability. Thus, understanding mechanisms in an animal model could lead to improved treatment for patients with chronic muscle pain.

Glutamate receptor blockade in the rostral ventromedial medulla reduces the force of multisegmental motor responses to supramaximal noxious stimuli

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) has been established as part of a descending pain-modulatory pathway. While the RVM has been shown to modulate homosegmental nociceptive reflexes such as tail flick or hindpaw withdrawal, it is not known what role the RVM plays in modulating the magnitude of multisegmental, organized motor responses elicited by noxious stimuli. Using local blockade of glutamate receptors with the non-specific glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenate (known to selectively block nociceptive facilitatory ON-cells), we tested the hypothesis that the RVM facilitates the magnitude of multi-limb movements elicited by intense noxious stimuli. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, we determined the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane necessary to block multi-limb motor responses to noxious tail clamp. MAC was determined so that all animals were anesthetized at an equipotent isoflurane concentration (0.7 MAC). Supramaximal mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw or electrical stimulation of the tail elicited synchronous, repetitive movements in all four limbs that ceased upon, or shortly after (<5 s) termination of the stimulus. Kynurenate microinjection (2 nmol) into the RVM significantly attenuated, by 40-60%, the peak and integrated limb forces elicited by noxious mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw (p<0.001; two-way ANOVA; n=8) or electrical stimulation of the tail (peak force: p<0.011, two-way ANOVA; n=8), with significant recovery 40-60 min following injection. The results suggest that glutamatergic excitation of RVM neurons, presumably ON-cells, facilitates organized, multi-limb escape responses to intense noxious stimuli.

Brainstem-mediated locomotion and myoclonic jerks. II Pharmacological effects

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that microinjection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) agonist into the nucleus magnocellularis (NMC) of the medial medulla increases muscle tone and/or produces locomotion, while injection of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and non-NMDA agonists into the same or nearby sites suppresses muscle tone. In the first paper of this series, we report that myoclonic twitches or coordinated rhythmic leg movement (locomotion) can be induced by either NMDA or hemorrhagic bilateral lesion of the ventral mesopontine junction (vMPJ). In this paper, we report that microinjection of CRF (10 nM) or non-NMDA agonists, kainic acid (0.1-0.2 mM) and quisqualic acid (1-10 mM), into the NMC block locomotion and myoclonic twitches. The latency and duration of CRF and non-NMDA agonist-induced blockade of motor activity were short, at 34 s and 3.6 min, respectively. However, microinjection of the NMDA agonists DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 50 mM) or DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5, 20 mM) block myoclonus at a latency of 0.6-3 min with the block lasting for a mean of 7 h. Thus, activation of non-NMDA receptors or inactivation of NMDA receptors in NMC can block myoclonus. An imbalance between the inputs to these receptor systems may contribute to the generation of abnormal motor activation in waking and sleep.

Monosynaptic projections from the medullary gigantocellular reticular formation to sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the thoracic spinal cord

Microinjection of L-glutamate into a restricted area of the medullary gigantocellular reticular formation, the gigantocellular depressor area (GiDA), lowers arterial pressure. Unlike the nuclei tractus solitarii and the caudal ventrolateral medulla, the two principle medullary vasodepressor areas, the GiDA projects directly to the spinal cord and not to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (Aicher et al. [1994] Neuroscience 60:761-779). We investigated whether neurons within GiDA directly innervate autonomic areas of the thoracic spinal cord. Fluoro-Gold injected into the thoracic spinal cord labeled neurons within functionally defined vasodepressor sites in the GiDA in the same animal. To examine the morphology of GiDA efferents to the spinal cord, the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin was iontophoresed into the GiDA, and efferent processes in the intermediolateral cell column and nucleus intercalatus spinalis were examined by electron microscopy. Labeling was confined to axons and axon terminals (n = 144) that usually contained primarily small clear vesicles, contacted large and small dendrites, and formed symmetric (inhibitory) synapses. To determine whether some of the postsynaptic targets of GiDA efferent terminals in the thoracic spinal cord were sympathoadrenal preganglionic neurons, these neurons were retrogradely labeled from the adrenal gland with Fluoro-Gold in rats that had deposits of the anterograde tracer, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA), in the GiDA. Some BDA-containing terminals formed symmetric synapses with dendrites containing Fluoro-Gold. We conclude that a population of neurons in the GiDA monosynaptically innervates some sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The findings suggest the presence of a novel reticulospinal sympathoinhibitory projection originating in the GiDA.

Internal connections in the rostral ventromedial medulla of the rat

Physiological and pharmacological data suggest that the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is an important site where integration between somatic and visceral functions might occur. The aim of the present study was to describe the interconnections between various nuclei of the rostral ventromedial medulla and thus reveal the possible anatomical basis for such functional interactions. The topography of anterogradely labelled internal projections was examined following iontophoretic microinjections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). The results revealed that the nuclei of the rostral ventromedial medulla have strong interconnections and, to varying degrees, they also have bilateral projections into the rostral ventrolateral medulla. A particularly dense projection to widespread regions of the ventral medulla was traced from the raphe obscurus. Terminals, originating from the raphe pallidus were similarly dispersed but very low density in comparison. The focus of the projections of the gigantocellular nucleus pars ventralis and pars alpha shifted from the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus towards the RVM in rostral direction. Connections from the raphe magnus were altogether restricted to the RVM and the medial aspects of the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus. The diffuse and dense intramedullary connections of the raphe obscurus suggest that it might have an important role in coordinating the activity of rostral ventral medullary cells. The raphe pallidus and the ventral gigantocellular nuclei, areas that were innervated from widespread regions of the rostral ventral medulla but gave only limited projections there, are more likely to be involved in the direct descending control of spinal activities.

Direct projections from the anterior pretectal nucleus to the ventral medulla oblongata in rats

The anterior pretectal nucleus has recently been implicated in the descending modulation of nociception. Electrical stimulation of the nucleus was found to reduce the nociceptive responses of deep dorsal horn neurons and to inhibit spinally integrated withdrawal reflexes. It is believed that at least part of the descending inhibitory effects of the anterior pretectal nucleus are mediated by reticulospinal cells of the ventrolateral medulla. The purpose of the present study was to trace the direct medullary projections of the anterior pretectal nucleus, to describe their topographical organization and to reveal the chemical nature of some of their putative target cells. The connections were studied using anterograde tract-tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. Direct projections from the anterior pretectal nucleus to the ipsilateral rostral ventral medulla were found in all cases. A dense innervation of the dorsal inferior olive, the gigantocellular reticular nucleus pars ventralis and pars alpha and the ventral pontine reticular nucleus was found from all aspects of the anterior pretectal nucleus. Descending labelled terminals were also observed in the gigantocellular reticular nucleus proper and, laterally, in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and in the region of the A5 noradrenergic cell group. A relatively lower density of labelled terminals was noted in the medullary raphe nuclei and in the rostroventrolateral reticular nucleus. Following tract-tracer injections into five distinct subregions of the anterior pretectal nucleus, the topographical organization of the projection was examined and the relatively highest density and most widespread projection was found to originate from the caudoventral part of the anterior pretectal nucleus. A combined tract-tracing and immunolabelling study revealed that some of the descending, labelled terminals were in close proximity of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive dendrites in the C1 and A5 cell groups. Some labelled fibres were also noted among the serotonin-immunoreactive cells in the lateral extension of the B3 cell population. The existence of direct projections to the ventral medulla and pons correlates well with physiological data which showed that the descending, antinociceptive effects of the anterior pretectal nucleus are relayed via the rostral ventrolateral medulla. The data are also in keeping with pharmacological studies that suggested the role of catecholaminergic cells in the mediation of these descending effects. It is proposed that the rostral ventral medullary projections provide a path through which antinociceptive effects of the anterior pretectal nucleus are mediated to the spinal cord.

Monosynaptic projections from the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata to identified sympathetic preganglionic neurons

The rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata plays an important role in the control of arterial blood pressure and it has strong descending projections into the intermediolateral nucleus of the thoracic spinal cord, where the majority of sympathetic preganglionic neurons are located. The purpose of this study was to see whether these projections form synaptic contacts with sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the rat. Projections from both the lateral part of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rostroventrolateral reticular nucleus) and from the more medial region (lateral paragigantocellular nucleus) were investigated separately in view of their different functional roles in sympatho-regulation and their different chemical composition. Using anterograde tract-tracing of descending medullary pathways with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and retrograde labelling of sympatho-adrenal preganglionic neurons with cholera B chain conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, the existence of monosynaptic connections was sought by electron microscopy. Synaptic inputs from both the lateral and medial aspects of the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata were found on identified sympathetic preganglionic neurons. Synaptic specializations were of both the symmetrical and asymmetrical type. The targets of boutons forming asymmetrical synaptic contacts differed according to their origin: boutons originating from neurons in the rostroventrolateral reticular nucleus were mainly in contact with dendrites of sympathetic preganglionic neurons, while those originating from the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus mainly innervated the cell bodies. Our observations provide anatomical support for the view that there are two distinct classes of sympatho-regulatory cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, each of which can directly influence the activity of sympathetic preganglionic neurons; they also emphasize the importance of detailed investigation of the subregions of the ventrolateral medulla with respect to their sympatho-regulatory functions.

Serotonin-, substance P- and glutamate/aspartate-like immunoreactivities in medullo-spinal pathways of rat and primate

Serotonergic neurons of the medulla oblongata have been proposed to play a role in the control of sensory, motor and autonomic cells in the spinal cord. Many of these raphe neurons have been shown to contain the undecapeptide substance P as well as the tripeptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone, but evidence for the presence of an excitatory amino acid in these pathways has not yet been documented. In colchicine-treated rats, we have used a combination of retrograde tracing and tri-color immunohistofluorescence techniques to study co-localization of serotonin- and substance P- with glutamate- or aspartate-like immunoreactivities in medullary neurons and the possible spinal projections of these cells. In addition, the distributions of serotonin-, substance P- and glutamate-immunoreactive terminal fields in the dorsal, ventral and lateral horns of the spinal cord were examined with tri-color immunofluorescence in the rat and the primate Macaca fasciculata. In colchicine-treated rats, glutamate- and aspartate-like immunoreactivity was found in practically all serotonin- and substance P-immunoreactive neurons of the B1, B2 and B3 cell groups. Some of these neurons also contained wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated to inactivated horseradish peroxidase and colloidal gold particles retrogradely transported from the spinal cord. In the spinal cords of non-colchicine-treated monkeys and rats, striking co-localization of serotonin, substance P- and glutamate-like immunoreactivities was seen in large boutons, surrounding the dendrites and cell bodies of large alpha motor neurons in the ventral horn. These observations suggest the existence of spinally projecting serotonin/substance P neurons containing excitatory amino acids such as glutamate or aspartate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)