Transsynaptic localization of pharyngeal premotor neurons in rat.
We determined the anatomy and connectivity of the brainstem circuit controlling the buccopharyngeal phase of swallowing, using pseudorabies virus to identify linked circuits of neurons. Pharyngeal vagal afferents terminate on premotor neurons in the interstitial and intermediate subnuclei of the nucleus of the solitary tract, which in turn, innervate pharyngeal motoneurons in the semicompact subnucleus of the nucleus ambiguus. This circuit is separate and distinct from the esophageal swallowing circuit.
Bao
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Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Wiedner
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EB
Altschuler
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D000818:Animals; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000166:cytology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology