Distribution of bulbospinal neurons supplying bilateral innervation to the phrenic nucleus in the rat.
The location of bulbospinal neurons with axon collaterals in both phrenic nuclei were determined by injecting two different fluorescent tracers into the right and left C4 cervical spinal cord. In contrast to single-labeled neurons that were found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the medulla, the majority of double-labeled neurons were located in the rostral ventral respiratory group. Only a few double-labeled neurons were found in the ventrolateral nucleus of the solitary tract. The role of this bilateral pathway in synchronizing the activity of the phrenic nucleus is discussed.
Portillo
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F
Département de Physiologie et Neurophysiologie, URA CNRS 205, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Saint Jerome, Marseille, France.
Núñez-Abades
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*