title: Opiocortin and catecholamine projections to raphe nuclei.
abstract: Afferent projections to the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were identified using retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA). Neurons were labeled in important nociceptive regions including periaqueductal gray (PAG), arcuate nucleus, lateral hypothalamus and medial thalamic nuclei following both injections. We have immunocytochemically identified opiocortin/WGA neurons in the arcuate nucleus following NRM and DRN injections. Dual stained catecholamine/WGA perikarya were found in zona incerta, locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, nucleus tractus solitarius and adjacent A2, C2 and C3, lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus/C1 and lateral reticular nucleus/A1 following DRN injections and in zona incerta, substantia nigra, nucleus tractus solitarius/A2 and lateral reticular nucleus/A1 after NRM injections. These results provide further evidence for opiocortin and catecholamine modulation of analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Unit, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin