THE VISCERAL NEURAXIS IN HOMEOSTASIS

哺乳动物大脑的内脏神经轴是一个神经网络， 连接，介导的行为和生理控制， 体内平衡 从神经解剖学上讲，它可以通过与 自主神经系统，与室周器官的联系 大脑和连接到影响内分泌的主要下丘脑核团 以及通过中间原子核的相互连接来发挥作用。 的 脑室周围器官，缺乏血脑屏障， 影响内脏功能的体液因子的假定中枢受体位点 功能和内脏传入（化学感受器，压力感受器和 周围神经系统的机械感受器（mechanoreceptors）组成感觉侧 的网络。 运动部分是自主神经系统， 内分泌系统和稳态行为。 的长期目标 这个项目是为了定义和理解组件的操作 的内脏神经轴有助于产生摄食 行为和特定的行为状态以及转换它们的因素 健康损害行为或伴随肥胖的状态， 精神分裂症、高血压、心因性烦渴、应激性溃疡，以及 原发性高钠血症 第一个具体目标是完成 内脏定位和免疫细胞化学表征的 脑干对消化道器官的神经支配。 神经解剖 光镜和电镜下的研究（单标记和双标记） 水平将使用缀合物，特别是霍乱毒素， 辣根过氧化物酶、荧光染料、染料标记的凝集素、毒素和 神经肽抗体 我们的目标是确定 内脏传入信息被神经肽路由和修改， 局部控制内脏和影响行为。 第二个目标是 以确定在超微结构水平上胃传入神经， 可能在饱足感分布到向上投射神经元中起作用 内脏神经轴和保持局部连接的神经元。 的 第三个目标是在超微结构水平上使用双 标记技术如何从下丘脑下行投射到 迷走神经复合体影响内脏传入神经的传入和加工 通过内脏神经轴传递信息用于行为。 第四 目的是确定微损伤途径和终末 穹窿下器官对饮酒的新投射部位 行为和肾功能对口渴挑战的反应。

The visceral neuraxis of the mammalian brain is a network of neural connections that mediates the behavioral and physiological controls of homeostasis. It can be defined neuroanatomically by its connections to the autonomic nervous system, connections with circumventricular organs of the brain and connections to the major hypothalamic nuclei affecting endocrine function as well as by interconnections of intervening nuclei. The circumventricular organs, which lack a blood brain barrier making them putative central receptor sites for humoral factors affecting visceral function, and the visceral afferents (chemoreceptors, baroreceptors and mechanoreceptors) of the peripheral nervous system make up the sensory side of the network. The motor components are the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system and homeostatic behavior. The long term objectives of this project are to define and understand the operation of the components of the visceral neuraxis contributing to the generation of ingestive behaviors and specific behavioral states and the factors which convert them into health damaging behaviors or states that accompany obesity, schizophrenia, hypertension, psychogenic polydipsia, stress ulcers, and essential hypernatremia. The first specific objective is to complete the viscerotopic mapping and immunocytochemical characterization of the brainstem's innervation of organs of the alimentary canal. Neuroanatomical studies (single and double labeling) at the light and electron microscopic level will be done using conjugates, particularly cholera toxin, of horseradish peroxidase, fluorescent dyes, dye tagged lectins, toxins and antibodies to neuropeptides. The goal is to determine how incoming visceral afferent information is routed and modified by neuropeptides for local control of viscera and for influencing behavior. The second goal is to determine at the ultrastructural level how gastric afferents which presumably play a role in satiation distribute to neurons that project up the visceral neuraxis and to neurons that remain connected locally. The third goal is to determine at the ultrastructural level using a double labeling technique how descending projections from the hypothalamus to the vagal complex influence the input and processing of visceral afferent information through the visceral neuraxis for use in behavior. The fourth goal is to determine the effects of microlesioning pathways and terminal field sites of new projections from the subfornical organ on drinking behavior and renal function in response to thirst challenges.