Electrophysiological responses of neurones in the rat nucleus tractus solitarius to oxytocin-releasing stimuli

Neurones in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the rat are, at least partially, responsible for mediating the excitatory effects of systemic cholecystokinin (CCK) injection and parturition on oxytocin release. Utilising in vivo electrophysiological recordings in urethane-anaesthetised rats we e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 1997-11, Vol.236 (3), p.163-166
Main Authors: Bailey, A.R.T, Wakerley, J.B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Brainstem
Central nervous system
Cholecystokinin
Cholecystokinin - pharmacology
Dilatation
Electric Stimulation
Electrophysiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lactation - physiology
Neurons - chemistry
Neurons - drug effects
Neurons - physiology
Oxytocin
Oxytocin - physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Receptors, Cholecystokinin - physiology
Solitary Nucleus - cytology
Solitary Nucleus - physiology
Vagina - physiology
Vaginal distension
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Neurones in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the rat are, at least partially, responsible for mediating the excitatory effects of systemic cholecystokinin (CCK) injection and parturition on oxytocin release. Utilising in vivo electrophysiological recordings in urethane-anaesthetised rats we examined the effects of systemic CCK injection and vaginal distension (VD) on NTS neuronal activity. Approximately 25% of neurones were excited by CCK injection and a population of neurones (24%) responded specifically to VD, but only one neurone responded to both oxytocin-releasing stimuli. NTS neurones that projected to the hypothalamus also responded in a specific manner to either CCK or VD. It is known that the excitatory effects of CCK and VD on oxytocin release are mediated by separate peripheral pathways and the results from this study suggest that separation of these two inputs persists at the level of the NTS.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/S0304-3940(97)00788-X