Ontogeny of neurotensin-containing neuron system of the rat: immunohistochemical analysis--II. Lower brain stem.
The ontogeny of the neurotensin neuron system in the lower brain stem of the rat was investigated by means of indirect immunofluorescent method. Neurotensin-like immunoreactivity-containing cells first appear in the primordium of the n. tractus solitarii, n. tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, reticular formation just medial to the latter nucleus, n. reticularis parvocellularis, n. laterodorsalis tegmenti, and midbrain reticular formation of the fetus at gestational day 17. At gestional day 18, neurotensin-immunoreactive cells newly appear in the n. raphe dorsalis. Between gestational day 19 and postnatal day 7, the animals show a remarkable increase in number of immunoreactive cells and fibers in various lower brain stem areas except for n. tractus spinalis nervi trigemini and n. tractus solitarii. Moreover, during this stage, neurotensin-immunoreactive cells located in the n. prepositus hypoglossi and n. vestibularis lateralis appear for the first time at birth and postnatal day 5, respectively. Since postnatal day 7, although the majority of immunoreactive cells located in the lower brain stem decrease in number as the rats grow, immunoreactive cells in the n. tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, on the contrary, increase in number from after birth until postnatal day 10, and maintain more or less their immunoreactivity even in the adult rat. In addition, neurotensin-immunoreactive cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract increase in number during the fetal period, reach the maximum content at postnatal day 7-10, and maintain their immunoreactivity even in the adult rats. Thus, the present study demonstrated that neurotensin-like immunoreactive structures appear at a very early ontogenetical stage, suggesting that neurotensin plays an important role in the development of the lower brain stem of the rat. In addition, the present study further showed that neurotensin-immuno-reactivity shows various fluctuations during the ontogeny, suggesting multiple functions of neurotensin in the central nervous system.
D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats / Q000196:embryology*
D009496:Neurotensin