IXth Nerve Anesthesis on Gustatory NTS Responses

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的长期目标是 了解中枢神经系统中味觉刺激的神经处理过程 系统特别感兴趣的是食欲（甜）和 孤束核（NTS）中的厌恶（苦）刺激。 来自食欲刺激的信息从舌头传递到NTS 通过第七脑神经，而关于厌恶刺激的信息， 通过第九神经从舌头传递到NTS。味觉反应 NTS通常是来自这两条神经的会聚输入的结果。的 这种趋同的功能性质还没有得到很好的理解，尽管有些人认为， 有证据表明，存在抑制相互作用之间的第七次 第九条神经 本研究的具体目的是研究第九神经在 这种收敛及其对NTS味觉反应的影响。为了 为了研究这一点，第九神经将被选择性地和可逆地麻醉。 对四种基本味觉刺激（NaCl、蔗糖、QHCl和HCl）的反应将是 记录单个神经元在NTS之前，之后和之后恢复 来自第九神经麻醉。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this study is to understand the neural processing of gustatory stimuli in the central nervous system. Of particular interest is the processing of appetitive (sweet) and aversive (bitter) stimuli in the medullary nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Information from appetitive stimuli is transmitted from the tongue to the NTS via the VIIth cranial nerve, whereas information regarding aversive stimuli is transmitted from the tongue to the NTS via the IXth nerve. Taste responses in the NTS are often the result of converging input from these two nerves. The functional nature of this convergence is not well understood, although some evidence suggests the presence of an inhibitory interaction between the VIIth and IXth nerves. The specific aim of this study is to investigate the role of the IXth nerve in this convergence and its influence on gustatory responses in the NTS. In order to study this, the IXth nerve will be selectively and reversibly anesthetized. Responses to the four basic taste stimuli (NaCl, sucrose, QHCl and HCl) will be recorded from single neurons in the NTS before, after and following recovery from IXth nerve anesthesia.