Spinal and vagal projections to the sympathetic trunk of the wrasse, Halichoeres poecilopterus

• Published in: Journal of the autonomic nervous system 1997-12, Vol.67 (3), p.125-129
• Main Authors: Funakoshi, Kengo, Abe, Toshio, Rahman, Md.Shamsur, Kishida, Reiji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic - anatomy & histology; Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic - cytology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ganglia, Sympathetic - anatomy & histology; Ganglia, Sympathetic - cytology; Halichoeres poecilopterus; Halichoeres poecilopterus (Perciformes); Horseradish peroxidase; Marine; Medulla oblongata; Medulla Oblongata - cytology; Perciformes - anatomy & histology; Peripheral nervous system. Autonomic nervous system. Neuromuscular transmission. Ganglionic transmission. Electric organ; Preganglionic neuron; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord - cytology; Spinal Nerves - anatomy & histology; Sympathetic nervous system; Sympathetic Nervous System - anatomy & histology; Sympathetic Nervous System - cytology; Teleost; Vagus Nerve - anatomy & histology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0165-1838; 1872-7476
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-1838(97)00099-4

The sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the teleost, Halichoeres poecilopterus, were identified by retrograde axonal tracing. After horseradish peroxidase was applied to the sympathetic trunk, labeled neurons were found at the caudalmost level of the medulla, in the spinal cord near the fourth spinal nerve root (rostral spinal group), and in the spinal cord from rostral to the sixth spinal nerve root to caudal to the tenth spinal nerve root (caudal spinal group). The rostral spinal group has three cell columns segregated mediolaterally from the central gray zone to the lateral funiculus. Labeled neurons were found predominantly on the side ipsilateral to the application. In the caudal spinal group, labeled neurons were found bilaterally in the central gray zone. This condition is different from that previously reported in the puffer fish and filefish. The labeling in the medulla suggests that the preganglionic neurons in the brainstem may send fibers to the sympathetic trunk of this fish, although their peripheral targets are unknown.