Expression of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors on phenotypically different cells within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS)

Abstract

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G‐protein coupled receptors that modulate synaptic transmission. Group I mGluRs are expressed throughout the NTS, the central site of termination of cardiovascular and visceral afferents. However, there is little evidence detailing the phenotype of Group I mGluR expressing cells within the NTS. We evaluated expression of Group I mGluRs on specific cell phenotypes in the NTS. Fluoro‐Gold (FG) was microinjected into the caudal ventrolateral medulla of male Sprague‐Dawley rats. After five days for retrograde transport of FG to the NTS, animals were euthanized and hindbrains immunohistochemically processed for Group I mGluRs and either glutam..