scholarly journals The Neural Pathway of Reflex Regulation of Electroacupuncture at Orofacial Acupoints on Gastric Functions in Rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhua Liu ◽  
Wenbin Fu ◽  
Wei Yi ◽  
Zhenhua Xu ◽  
Nenggui Xu

Acupuncture has a reflex regulation in gastrointestinal functions, which is characterized with segment. In the present study, the neural pathway of electroacupuncture (EA) at orofacial acupoints (ST2) on gastric myoelectric activity (GMA) in rats was investigated. The results indicated that EA at ST2 facilitated spike bursts of GMA, which is similar to EA at limbs and opposite to EA at abdomen. The excitatory effect was abolished by the transaction of infraorbital nerves, dorsal vagal complex lesion, and vagotomy, respectively. In addition, microinjection of L-glutamate into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) attenuated the excitatory effect. All these data suggest that the dorsal vagal complex is involved in the reflex regulation of EA at orofacial acupoints on gastric functions and NTS-dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) inhibitory connections may be essential for it.

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2330-2343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenjun Tan ◽  
Ronald Fogel ◽  
Chunhui Jiang ◽  
Xueguo Zhang

Galanin plays an important role in the regulation of food intake, energy balance, and body weight. Many galanin-positive fibers as well as galanin-positive neurons were seen in the dorsal vagal complex, suggesting that galanin produces its effects by actions involving vagal neurons. In the present experiment, we used tract-tracing and neurophysiological techniques to evaluate the origin of the galaninergic fibers and the effect of galanin on neurons in the dorsal vagal complex. Our results reveal that the nucleus of the solitary tract is the major source of the galanin terminals in the dorsal vagal complex. In vivo experiments demonstrated that galanin inhibited the majority of gut-related neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. In vitro experiments demonstrated that galanin inhibited the majority of stomach-projecting neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus by suppressing spontaneous activity and/or producing a fully reversible dose-dependent membrane hyperpolarization and outward current. The galanin-induced hyperpolarization and outward current persisted after synaptic input was blocked, suggesting that galanin acts directly on receptors of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The reversal potential induced by galanin was close to the potassium ion potentials of the Nernst equation and was prevented by the potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium, indicating that the inhibitory effect of galanin was mediated by a potassium channel. These results indicate that the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus is inhibited by galanin derived predominantly from neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract projecting to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve. Galanin is one of the neurotransmitters involved in the vago-vagal reflex.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher F. Spurney ◽  
Donald C. Ohuoha ◽  
Angela M. Murray ◽  
Joel E. Kleinman ◽  
Thomas M. Hyde

The distribution of 5-HT1A receptors in the subnuclei of the human caudal nucleus of solitary tract and adjacent structures in the dorsal vagal complex was studied using [3H]8-OH-DPAT, a highly selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist. The highest binding of the labeled ligand was found in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, followed by the medial, intermediate, and subpostremal subnuclei of the nucleus of solitary tract. Previous animal studies suggest an important role for these structures in the regulation of visceral function, particularly for the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. The results of this study suggest the possibility of an analogous role for 5-HT1A receptors in the regulation of these autonomic pathways in humans as well.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (1) ◽  
pp. G154-G160 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Travagli ◽  
R. A. Gillis

The purpose of our study was to explore whether nitric oxide was involved as an intercellular messenger in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). To achieve this purpose we examined DMV motoneurons of the rat in vitro with the use of the extracellular cell-attached recording technique. The motoneurons, in general, exhibit a spontaneous discharge and when exposed to NO-producing drugs (i.e., 3-300 microM L-arginine and 10-100 microM S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) exhibit a concentration-related increase in their spontaneous firing rate. Because NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase and increases guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), we tested dibutyryl-cGMP (30-300 microM) and found that it also excites DMV neurons. Perfusion of the DMV neurons with N omega-nitro-L-arginine (300 microM), an inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS), and with NO scavenger, reduced hemoglobin (1 microM), counteracted the excitatory effect of L-arginine and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Perfusion of the preparation with LY-83583 (10 microM), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, also counteracted the effects of L-arginine and NMDA. These data indicate that NOS is present in DMV neurons, and that the excitatory effect of NMDA on these neurons is due in part to formation of NO and the resulting accumulation of cGMP in DMV neurons.


2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaleh Mansouri ◽  
Ashok Panigrahy ◽  
Susan F. Assmann ◽  
Hannah C. Kinney

Rapid and dramatic changes occur in cardiorespiratory function during early human life. Catecholamines within select brain stem nuclei are implicated in the control of autonomic and respiratory function, including in the nucleus of the solitary tract and the dorsal motor nucleus of X. Animal and adult human studies have shown high binding to α2-adrenergic receptors in these regions. To determine the developmental profile of brainstem α2-adrenergic binding across early human life, we studied brain stems from five fetuses at mid-gestation, three newborns (37–38 postconceptional weeks), and six infants (44–61 postconceptional weeks). We used quantitative tissue receptor autoradiography with [3H]para-aminoclonidine as the radioligand and phentolamine as the displacer. In the fetal group, binding was high (63–93 fmol/mg tissue) in the nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal motor nucleus of X, locus coeruleus, and reticular formation; it was low (<32 fmol/mg tissue) in the principal inferior olive and basis pontis. Binding decreased in all regions with age: in infancy, the highest binding was in the intermediate range (32–62 fmol/mg tissue) and was localized to the nucleus of the solitary tract and dorsal motor nucleus of X. The most substantial decrease in binding (75%–85%) between the fetal and infant periods occurred in the pontine and medullary reticular formation and hypoglossal nucleus. Binding remained low in the principal inferior olive and basis pontis. The decreases in binding with age remained significant after quench correction. These data suggest that rapid and dramatic changes occur in early human life in the brain stem catecholaminergic system in regions related to cardiorespiratory control.


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