title: Commentary on: Saper CB, Loewy AD, Swanson LW, Cowan WM. (1976) Direct hypothalamo-autonomic connections. Brain Research 117:305-312.
abstract: The 1970s saw the introduction of new technologies for tracing axons both anterogradely and retrogradely. These methods allowed us to visualize fine, unmyelinated pathways for the first time, such as the hypothalamic pathways that control the autonomic nervous system. As a result, we were able to identify the paraventricular nucleus and lateral hypothalamus as the key sites that provide direct inputs to the autonomic preganglionic neurons in the medulla and spinal cord. These findings revolutionized our understanding of hypothalamic control of the autonomic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States. Electronic address: csaper@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Clifford B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Saper
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States.
authors.forename: Arthur D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Loewy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D056347:Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques / Q000266:history; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Autonomic; Hypothalamus; Paraventricular