ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Key words: Oxytocin
;
Immunocytochemistry
;
Paraventricular nucleus
;
Superior cervical ganglion
;
Spinal cord
;
Sympathetic nervous system
;
Retrograde tracing
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is a major integrative nucleus for relaying information from the suprachiasmatic nucleus to the autonomic system. The precise pathway by which this information can influence autonomic functions, such as melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland, is not clear. In the present study, we used a retrograde tracer injected in the superior cervical ganglion to identify spinal preganglionic neurons. One of the main neurotransmitters present in descending projections of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, oxytocin, was detected with immunocytochemistry to visualise possible contacts with the neurons located in the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and projecting to the superior cervical ganglion. Although many appositions could be seen at the light-microscopic level, this abundance could not be confirmed at the electron-microscopic level. The implications of these observations for the overall timing message received by the spinal preganglionic neurons are discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004410050772
