title: Selective losses of brainstem catecholamine neurons after hypoxia-ischemia in the immature rat pup.
abstract: Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the preterm neonate incurs numerous functional deficits, however little is known about the neurochemically-defined brain nuclei that may underpin them. Key candidates are the brainstem catecholamine neurons. Using an immature animal model, the postnatal day (P)-3 (P3) rat pup, we investigated the effects of HI on brainstem catecholamine neurons in the locus coeruleus, nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), and ventrolateral medulla (VLM). On P21, we found that prior P3 HI significantly reduced numbers of catecholaminergic neurons in the locus coeruleus, NTS, and VLM. Only locus coeruleus A6, NTS A2, and VLM A1 noradrenergic neurons, but not NTS C2 and VLM C1 adrenergic neurons, were lost. There was also an associated reduction in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-positive immunolabeling in the forebrain. These findings suggest neonatal HI can affect specific neurochemically-defined neuronal populations in the brainstem and that noradrenergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to HI injury.
authors: Perinatal Research Centre, University of Queensland, Queensland 4029, Australia. K.Buller@uq.edu.au
authors: Kathryn M
authors: KM
authors: Buller
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Wixey
authors: Praneeti
authors: P
authors: Pathipati
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Carty
authors: Paul B
authors: PB
authors: Colditz
authors: Christopher E
authors: CE
authors: Williams
authors: Arjan
authors: A
authors: Scheepens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines