Serotonin-synthesizing neurons in the rostral medullary raphé/parapyramidal region transneuronally labelled after injection of pseudorabies virus into the rat tail.
Serotonin-synthesizing raphé/parapyramidal neurons (5-HT neurons) may function as sympathetic premotor neurons regulating sympathetic outflow to the cutaneous vascular bed. In the present study a genetically engineered pseudorabies virus (PRV) expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected into the rat tail. After survival for 3-4 days the medulla oblongata was examined using double-label immunohistochemistry, with an antibody against GFP for the virus and an antibody against phenylalanine hydroxylase 8 (PH8) for 5-HT synthesis. Sections were examined using light microscopy, and conventional and confocal fluorescence microscopy. There were two subpopulations of PRV+ve neurons in the raphé/parapyramidal region: a more dorsally and laterally located subgroup of medium-sized and large neurons, mainly non-serotonergic, and a more ventrally located subgroup of small mainly serotonin-synthesizing neurons, including those just dorsal to the pyramids, those in raphé pallidus, and those in close relationship to the ventral surface in the parapyramidal-subependymal zone.
Joint Research Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Semmelweis University of Medicine and Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
Ida E
IE
Tóth
Dorina E
DE
Tóth
Zsolt
Z
Boldogkoi
Akos
A
Hornyák
Miklós
M
Palkovits
William W
WW
Blessing
D000818:Animals; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013623:Tail
D012701:Serotonin