IXth Nerve Anesthesis on Gustatory NTS Responses

描述(申请人提供)：本研究的长期目标是 了解中枢神经对味觉刺激的神经加工 系统。特别令人感兴趣的是食欲(甜味)和 孤束延髓核(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IXth神经从舌头传到NTS。味觉反应在 NTS通常是这两条神经输入汇聚的结果。这个 这种融合的功能性质还没有被很好地理解，尽管有些 证据表明，VIIth之间存在抑制性相互作用 和IXth神经。 本研究的具体目的是探讨IXTH神经在 这种融合及其对孤束核味觉反应的影响。按顺序 为了研究这一点，将对IXth神经进行选择性和可逆性麻醉。 对四种基本味觉刺激(氯化钠、蔗糖、氯化氢和盐酸)的反应将是 恢复前、恢复后和恢复后NTS内单个神经元的记录 来自IXTH神经麻醉剂。

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.