Neurons in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) lateral lumbosacral spinal cord project to the central part of the lateral periaqueductal gray matter.
In order to micturate successfully, information from the bladder has to be conveyed to the brainstem. In most experimental animals, this information is relayed, via the lumbosacral spinal cord, to the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG). Although the rat is the most used experimental animal in neurourological research, urodynamic studies show that guinea pig may be a better small experimental animal because its urodynamic profile is, in contrast to that of a rat, similar to that of humans. Therefore, the present study, using anterograde and retrograde tracing, was performed to determine whether the lumbosacral spinal cord projects to the PAG in guinea pig. Results show that neurons in the lateral part of the lumbosacral spinal cord project to the central parts of the PAG. This pathway may convey information about the level of bladder filling to the PAG.
Kuipers
Rutger
R
Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Building 3215, Room 721, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, PO Box 196, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. r.kuipers@med.umcg.nl
Klop
Esther Marije
EM
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate