Raphe Nuclei Projections to Vestibular Nuclei

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究项目的目标是表征中缝核到前庭系统的投射组织。虽然已知起源于中缝核的纤维支配前庭核，但对中缝-前庭通路的具体组织知之甚少。这个项目的第一部分将使用顺行追踪来检查前庭核中叶投影的地形。然而，由于中脑突起来源于5 -羟色胺能神经元和非5 -羟色胺能神经元，我们设计了一种新的实验技术组合，可以独立分析5 -羟色胺能和非5 -羟色胺能成分的终止模式。目前的研究还涉及中缝投射到一个上升网络的组织，该网络有助于前庭与自主神经通路的相互作用。我们将测试5 -羟色胺能和非5 -羟色胺能的中速神经元是侧支轴突投射到这个上升网络的组成部分的来源，特别是前庭、外侧臂旁核、中央杏仁核和下丘脑室旁核。我们将使用多种逆行示踪方法来识别这些抵押投影。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research project is to characterize the organization of projections from the raphe nuclei to the vestibular system. Although fibers originating from raphe nuclei are known to innervate the vestibular nuclei, little is known about the specific organization of the raphe-vestibular pathway. The first part of this project will use anterograde tracing to examine the topography of raphe projections to the vestibular nuclei. However, because raphe projections arise from both serotonergic and non-serotonergic neurons, we have devised a novel combination of experimental techniques that will allow the termination patterns of the serotonergic and non-serotonergic components to be analyzed independently. The present research is also concerned with the organization of raphe projections to an ascending network that contributes to vestibular interactions with autonomic pathways. We will test the hypothesis that serotonergic and non-serotonergic raphe neurons are sources of collateralized axon projections to components of this ascending network - specifically the vestibular, lateral parabrachial, central amygdaloid, and hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei. We will use multiple retrograde tracer methods to identify these collateralized projections.