Journal article
Kölliker–Fuse GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons project to distinct targets
Journal of comparative neurology (1911), Vol.525(8), pp.1844-1860
06/01/2017
DOI: 10.1002/cne.24164
PMCID: PMC5832451
PMID: 28032634
Abstract
The Kölliker‐Fuse nucleus (KF) is known primarily for its respiratory function as the “pneumotaxic center” or “pontine respiratory group.” Considered part of the parabrachial (PB) complex, KF contains glutamatergic neurons that project to respiratory‐related targets in the medulla and spinal cord (Yokota, Oka, Tsumori, Nakamura, & Yasui, 2007). Here we describe an unexpected population of neurons in the caudal KF and adjacent lateral crescent subnucleus (PBlc), which are γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and have an entirely different pattern of projections than glutamatergic KF neurons. First, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and Cre‐reporter labeling revealed that many of these GABAergic neurons express FoxP2 in both rats and mice. Next, using Cre‐dependent axonal tracing in Vgat‐IRES‐Cre and Vglut2‐IRES‐Cre mice, we identified different projection patterns from GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in this region. GABAergic neurons in KF and PBlc project heavily and almost exclusively to trigeminal sensory nuclei, with minimal projections to cardiorespiratory nuclei in the brainstem, and none to the spinal cord. In contrast, glutamatergic KF neurons project heavily to the autonomic, respiratory, and motor regions of the medulla and spinal cord previously identified as efferent targets mediating KF cardiorespiratory effects. These findings identify a novel, GABAergic subpopulation of KF/PB neurons with a distinct efferent projection pattern targeting the brainstem trigeminal sensory system. Rather than regulating breathing, we propose that these neurons influence vibrissal sensorimotor function.
A new population of GABAergic Kölliker‐Fuse (KF) neurons project to trigeminal sensory nuclei. We propose that these neurons, together with glutamatergic KF neurons that project to the lateral VII, play a role in whisking whereas the remaining glutamatergic KF neurons form part of the respiratory system.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Kölliker–Fuse GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons project to distinct targets
- Creators
- Joel C Geerling - University of Iowa Hospital and ClinicsShigefumi Yokota - Shimane University School of MedicineIrma Rukhadze - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLADan Roe - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolNancy L Chamberlin - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of comparative neurology (1911), Vol.525(8), pp.1844-1860
- DOI
- 10.1002/cne.24164
- PMID
- 28032634
- PMCID
- PMC5832451
- NLM abbreviation
- J Comp Neurol
- ISSN
- 0021-9967
- eISSN
- 1096-9861
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health (P01 HL095491 ; R25 #NS070682)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2017
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984020656602771
Metrics
24 Record Views