title: Immunocytochemical localization of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 phosphorylated neurons in the brainstem of rat following visceral noxious stimulation.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 in brainstem neurons following noxious visceral stimulation. Ether and urethane anaesthetized rats received an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (ENS, UNS) or were left untreated (ECT, UCT). Paraffin embedded brain sections immunoreacted with an antibody specific for phosphorylated ERKs. In noxious stimulated rats ERKs activated neuron profiles in the periaqueductal gray matter, parabrachial, dorsal raphe, solitary tract nucleus, area postrema and superior colliculus suggest that ERKs activation takes place mainly in brainstem nuclei in which nociception and visceral activities interact. The comparison between ENS and UNS rats shows that the long acting anaesthetic urethane attenuates the number of the ERKs activated neurons compared to the short acting ether.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, LITA Segrate, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy. magda.gioia@unimi.it
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moscheni
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gagliano
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004986:Ether / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000201:enzymology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014520:Urethane / Q000494:pharmacology; D017833:Visceral Afferents / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D004986:Ether; D014520:Urethane; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019342:Acetic Acid