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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (March 5, 2008). doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00802.2007
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Submitted on November 2, 2007
Accepted on March 3, 2008

Modulation of activity of gustatory neurons in the hamster parabrachial nuclei by electrical stimulation of the ventroposteromedial nucleus of the thalamus

Limin Mao1, Young K. Cho2, and Cheng-Shu Li3*

1 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harbin Medical University School of Dentistry, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
2 Anatomy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois, United States; Physiology and Neuroscience, Kangnung National University College of Dentistry, Kangnung, KangWon, Korea, Republic of
3 Anatomy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cli{at}siumed.edu.

The parvicellular part of the ventroposteromedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPMpc) is positioned at the key site between the gustatory parabrachial nuclei (PbN) and the gustatory cortex for relaying and processing gustatory information via the thalamocortical pathway. Although neuroanatomical and electrophysiological studies have provided information regarding the gustatory projection from PbN to VPMpc, the exact relationship between PbN and VPMpc, especially the efferent projection involving VPMpc to PbN is obscure. Here we investigated the reciprocal connection between these two gustatory relays in urethane-anesthetized hamsters. We recorded from 114 taste-responsive neurons in the PbN and examined their responsiveness to electrical stimulation of the VPMpc bilaterally. Stimulation of either or both of the ipsilateral or contralateral VPMpc antidromically activated 109 gustatory PbN neurons. Seventy-two PbN neurons were antidromically activated after stimulation of both sides of the VPMpc, indicating that taste neurons in the PbN project heavily to the bilateral VPMpc. Stimulation of VPMpc also orthodromically activated 110 of PbN neurons, including 106 VPMpc-projection neurons. Seventy-eight neurons were orthodromically activated bilaterally. Among orthodromic activations of the PbN cells, the inhibitory response was the dominant response; 106 cells were inhibited, including ten neurons that were also excited contralaterally, indicating that taste neurons in the PbN are subject to strong inhibitory control from VPMpc. Moreover, stimulation of VPMpc altered taste responses of the neurons in the PbN, indicating that VPMpc modulates taste responses of PbN neurons. These results may provide functional insight of neural circuitry for taste processing and modulation involving these two nuclei.




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J. Neurophysiol.Home page
Y. K. Cho and C.-S. Li
Gustatory Neural Circuitry in the Hamster Brain Stem
J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2008; 100(2): 1007 - 1019.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




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