Evidence that glutamate is the transmitter mediating respiratory drive from medullary premotor neurons to phrenic motoneurons: a double labeling study in the rat.
Glutamate immunoreactivity was found in 81-84% of the bulbospinal neurons projecting to the phrenic motoneuron pool, which were located in the para-ambiguous nucleus and the ventral vicinity of the retrofacial nucleus. Their glutamate contents were identified by a double labeling technique in combination with the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase and immunocytochemistry of the glutamate. The remaining 16-19% of the bulbospinal neurons projecting to the phrenic motoneuron pool did not contain glutamate immunoreactivity. Thus it appears that glutamate may be a major transmitter of the inspiratory drive from the medullary respiratory neurons to the phrenic motoneurons.
Saji
M
M
Department of Physiology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
Miura
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*
D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase