A cardiovascular role for fractalkine and its cognate receptor, CX3CR1, in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract

Abstract

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), an integral vasomotor region located in the hindbrain, is important for cardiovascular homeostasis. Fractalkine (FKN) and its cognate receptor, CX3CR1, are constitutively expressed in the normal rat brain. The physiological significance of this cytokine and its receptor are not well established. In this study, we sought to identify the expression of FKN and CX3CR1 in subnuclei of the NTS and to elucidate their functional relevance. Using immunohistochemistry, we found expression of FKN and CX3CR1 throughout the entire rostro-caudal axis of the NTS in normal adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. When FKN was unilaterally microinjected directly into the commi..