ENKEPHALIN & SEROTONIN CIRCUITS IN CARDIOVASCULAR NUCLEI

这项拟议研究的长期目标是确定 脑啡肽和5-羟色胺的组织和解剖关系 在一个特定的心血管核中的回路， solitarii，因为它们可能与心血管调节有关， 功能协调发展的 本提案的具体目标是：（1）确定 精确终止脑啡肽免疫反应神经元， 包含在与心血管相关的束核分支内 2）研究突触关系， 脑啡肽免疫反应终末和神经元的形态学方面， 它们与终止于束核的内脏传入有关 solitrarii和3）描述突触的关系和模式， 肾上腺素能终末和含脑啡肽的神经元和终末。 在 含有脑啡肽的神经元的可能投射的情况， 对这些神经元的多巴胺能输入，同时使用HRP逆行 神经束追踪将与神经递质结合使用 免疫组化在光镜和电镜水平。 拟议研究的结果预计将提供形态学 脑啡肽能和肾上腺素能作用的基础 孤束核及其向中枢的投射 调节心血管功能。 此外，这些研究将 提供了关于神经元和回路的重要信息， 参与自主神经功能的中枢控制。

The long term objective of this proposed study is to determine the organization and anatomical relationships of enkephalin and serotonin circuits in a specific cardiovascular nucleus, the nucleus tractus solitarii, as they possibly relate to regulation of cardiovascular functions. The specific aims of this proposal are 1) to determine the precise termination of enkephalin immunoreactive neurons which are contained within cardiovascular related subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarii of the cat, 2) to investigate the synaptic relationships and morphological aspects of enkephalin immunoreactive terminals and neurons as they relate to visceral afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitrarii and 3) to describe the synaptic relationships and patterns of serotonergic terminals and enkephalin containing neurons and terminals. In the case of possible projections of enkephalin containing neurons and serotonergic input to these neurons, the concurrent use of HRP retrograde tract-tracing will be used in combination with neurotransmitter immunohistochemistry both at the light and electron microscopic levels. Results of the proposed study are expected to provide the morphological basis for the enkephalinergic and serotonergic effects observed within the nucleus tractus solitarii and its projections in relation to central regulation of cardiovascular function. Furthermore, these studies will contribute important information concerning the neurons and circuits that are involved in central control of autonomic functions.