Preoptic-raphé connections for thermoregulatory vasomotor control

M Tanaka; MJ McKinley; RM McAllen

Journal article

Preoptic-raphé connections for thermoregulatory vasomotor control

M Tanaka, MJ McKinley, RM McAllen

Journal of Neuroscience | SOC NEUROSCIENCE | Published : 2011

DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6433-10.2011

Abstract

Blood flow to glabrous skin such as the rat's tail determines heat dissipation from the body and is regulated by sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves. Tail vasoconstrictor activity is tonically inhibited by neurons in two distinct preoptic regions, rostromedial (RMPO) and caudolateral (CLPO) regions, whose actions may be via direct projections to medullary raphé premotor neurons. In urethaneanesthe tized rats, we sought single preoptic neurons that were antidromically activated from the medullary raphé and could subserve this function. Nine of 45 raphé-projecting preoptic neurons, predominantly in the CLPO, showed spontaneous activity under warm conditions and were inhibited by cooling the tru..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Michael McKinley Author

Robin McAllen Author

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RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP 2007 - MCKINLEY

I am a neuroscientist-physiologist investigating the neural circuitry of body fluid homeostasis and autonomic function

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)

Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Project Grants 454601 and 628657, the Robert J. Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, and the Leila Y. and G. Harold Mathers Trust. R. M. M. and M. J. M. hold NHMRC Fellowships 232305 and 454369. We are most grateful to David Trevaks for his expert help with technical and computing aspects of this study.