Expression of c-Fos and NADPH-d after peripheral noxious stimulation in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.
The participation of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in descending pain control mechanisms has been proposed. The aim of this study was to investigate NADPH-d and c-Fos reactivity in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus following noxious peripheral stimulation. Formalin induced hind paw inflammation in the rat resulted in bilateral increase of Fos and NADPH-d expression in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Approximately 30% of labelled cells were double-labelled. Close proximity to NADPH-d labelled neuronal processes with Fos-labelled nuclei were observed. This anatomical relationship supports the hypothesis that pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is involved in pain modulation and proposes a new explanation for the presence of nitric oxide in this nucleus.
Kayalioglu
Gulgun
G
Department of Anatomy, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. kayali@rocketmail.com
Balkan
Burcu
B
D000818:Animals; D005557:Formaldehyde; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000378:metabolism*
D005557:Formaldehyde; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase