Extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 in neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve and nucleus of the solitary tract are activated by noxious visceral stimulus in mice.
Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 (pERK1/2) -like immunoreactivity (LI) was enhanced in the neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) 8 min after an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in the mouse; the enhancement in pERK1/2-LI was suppressed after vagotomy. With immunofluorescent double labeling technique, the co-localization of acetic acid-induced pERK1/2 and tyrosine hydroxylase-LIs was observed in some of the NTS and DMV neurons. These results suggest that ERK1/2 signal-transducting pathway is involved in neuronal activities in NTS and DMV which are induced by vagus-conveyed nociceptive visceral information, and that some of these pERK1/2- immunoreactive neurons in NTS and DMV are catecholaminergic.
Xu
Zhen
Z
Institute of Neurosciences, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China.
Wang
Bai-Ren
BR
Ding
Yu-qiang
YQ
Kuang
Fang
F
Wang
Xi
X
Duan
Xiao-Li
XL
Jiao
Xi-Ying
XY
Ju
Gong
G
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D019342:Acetic Acid; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase