Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus: axonal projections to the brainstem

Joel C Geerling; Jung-Won Shin; Peter C Chimenti; Arthur D Loewy

doi:10.1002/cne.22283

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Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus: axonal projections to the brainstem

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus: axonal projections to the brainstem

Joel C Geerling, Jung-Won Shin, Peter C Chimenti and Arthur D Loewy

Journal of comparative neurology (1911), Vol.518(9), pp.1460-1499

05/01/2010

DOI: 10.1002/cne.22283

PMCID: PMC2868510

PMID: 20187136

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Abstract

The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) contains many neurons that innervate the brainstem, but information regarding their target sites remains incomplete. Here, we labeled neurons in the rat PVH with an anterograde axonal tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL) and studied their descending projections in reference to specific neuronal subpopulations throughout the brainstem. While many of their target sites were identified previously, numerous new observations were made. Major findings include: (1) In the midbrain, the PVH projects lightly to the ventral tegmental area, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter, reticular formation, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, and dorsal raphe nucleus. (2) In the dorsal pons, the PVH projects heavily to the pre-locus coeruleus, yet very little to the catecholamine neurons in the locus coeruleus, and selectively targets the viscerosensory subregions of the parabrachial nucleus; (3) In the ventral medulla, the superior salivatory nucleus, retrotrapezoid nucleus, compact and external formations of the nucleus ambiguus, A1 and caudal C1 catecholamine neurons, and caudal pressor area receive dense axonal projections, generally exceeding the PVH projection to the rostral C1 region; (4) The medial nucleus of the solitary tract (including A2 noradrenergic and aldosterone-sensitive neurons) receives the most extensive projections of the PVH, substantially more than the dorsal vagal nucleus or area postrema. Our findings suggest that the PVH may modulate a range of homeostatic functions, including cerebral and ocular blood flow, corneal and nasal hydration, ingestive behavior, sodium intake, and glucose metabolism, as well as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory activities.

salt appetite

autonomic

stress

cardiovascular

ingestive behavior

respiratory

Details

Title: Subtitle: Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus: axonal projections to the brainstem
Creators: Joel C Geerling - Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Jung-Won Shin - Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Peter C Chimenti - Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Arthur D Loewy - Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of comparative neurology (1911), Vol.518(9), pp.1460-1499
DOI: 10.1002/cne.22283
PMID: 20187136
PMCID: PMC2868510
NLM abbreviation: J Comp Neurol
ISSN: 0021-9967
eISSN: 1096-9861
Language: English
Date published: 05/01/2010
Academic Unit: Neurology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984013922602771

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