Study of the neuronal projection from the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra to the periaqueductal gray region

Li, Sa (2003) Study of the neuronal projection from the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra to the periaqueductal gray region. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[img] [English] PDF - Accepted Version
Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.

Download (6MB)

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) project to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (PAGvl) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DR). Research has also shown that stimulation of neurons in the VTA/SN elicits cardiovascular depressor responses that are mediated by a projection to the PAGvl/DR. Anatomical and physiological experiments were done in the present study to determine the neurochemical identity of the VTA/SN projection to the PAGvl/DR Experiments were done to characterize the origin and chemical nature of this projection by combining cholera toxin B tracing with immunofluorescence for the 67K isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The PAGvl/DR region was found to receive a substantial input from neurons in the VTA, SN, and deep mesencephalic nucleus. The DR was preferentially innervated by neurons in the VTA whereas the PAGvl was preferentially innervated by neurons in the SN. A proportion of neurons in the VTA and the reticular part of the SN found to project to the PAGvl/DR were GAD positive. In addition, experiments were done in urethane-anesthetized rats to determine if injections of a GABA antagonist in the region of the PAGvl/DR attenuated the cardiovascular depressor responses produced by glutamate stimulation (0.01 M, 50 nl) of the VTA/SN. Injections of the GABA blocking agent picrotoxin (2.5 nmol, 500 nl) into the PAGvl/DR eliminated the cardiovascular responses from stimulation of the VTA/SN. The results of the present investigation provide evidence for a GABAergic projection from the VTA/SN to the PAGvl/DR. This projection may be an important regulator of the PAGvl/DR, an area of the midbrain involved in the production of behavioral and physiological responses to pain and stress.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/10887
Item ID: 10887
Additional Information: Bibliography: leaves 90-116.
Keywords: ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, periaqueductal gray, dorsal raphe nucleus, dopamine, GABA, cardiovascular
Department(s): Medicine, Faculty of
Date: 2003
Date Type: Submission
Library of Congress Subject Heading: Mesencephalic tegmentum; Pain--Physiological aspects; Periaqueductal gray matter; Stress (Physiology); Substantia nigra--Physiological aspects.
Medical Subject Heading: Pain; Stress; Substantia Nigra--physiology.

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over the past year

View more statistics