title: Further evidence for the absence of a descending cholinergic projection from the brainstem to the spinal cord in the rat.
abstract: Serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons are known to project from the brainstem to the spinal cord. However, evidence for a bulbo-spinal projection that is cholinergic is sparse despite immunocytochemical and physiological evidence for a cholinergic influence on the cord. In this study we examined the possibility of a direct cholinergic bulbo-spinal projection in the rat using a combination of retrograde axonal tracing techniques and choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry. Although many cells were found to project to the cord from the brainstem, none were identified as being cholinergic, confirming previous evidence that the cholinergic innervation of the cord is intrinsic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Sherriff
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
chemical_list: D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase