title: Afferent connections of the caudal raphe pallidus nucleus in rats: a study using the fluorescent retrograde tracers fluorogold and true-blue.
abstract: Afferent connections to the caudal region of the nucleus raphe pallidus (RPa) in rats were studied using fluorogold and true-blue as tracers. Due to its ability to produce limited injection sites, true-blue proved to be more appropriate than fluorogold for studying long distance connections in a narrow structure such as the RPa. Fluorescent, retrogradely-labeled perikarya were found in the preoptic area (median, medial and lateral nuclei), hypothalamus (anterior, dorsal, lateral and posterior areas, and the peri- and paraventricular nuclei), zona incerta, central gray (dorsal, ventral and ventro-lateral), reticular formation of the brainstem, trigeminal spinal nuclei and in the spinal cord (laminae V-X at thoracic, lumbar and sacral levels). This connection pattern suggests the involvement of the RPa in autonomic, somatic and endocrine functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: de Rezende
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: do Vale
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001572:Benzofurans; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013266:Stilbamidines
chemical_list: C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D001572:Benzofurans; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013266:Stilbamidines; C038675:true blue