A morphological characterization of the canine area postrema.
The cellular morphology of the dog's area postrema (AP) was demonstrated with the Golgi-Cox technique. Golgi preparations suggested division of the canine AP into three regions: a periventricular mantle zone, a central region, and a junctional zone adjacent to the nucleus tractus solitarii. The distinctive feature of the dog's AP was arrays of periventricular neurons intermixed with glialoid cells. Additional Bodian sections revealed a commissural fiber network connecting the halves of the AP at the obex. The interconnected three-layer structure implies a polysynaptic pathway by which AP stimulation activates central sympathetic outflow.
D000818:Animals; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure