Morphological analysis of the nociceptive inputs to orexin-containing neurons in the hypothalamus

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24500412
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: YASUI Yukihiko 島根大学, 医学部, 教授 (30174501)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TSUMORI Toshiko 県立広島大学, 保健福祉学部, 教授 (30217377) ; YOKOTA Shigefumi 島根大学, 医学部, 助教 (50294369) ; OKA Tatsuro 島根大学, 医学部, 助教 (20508923)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: オレキシン / 視床下部 / 結合腕傍核 / 脊髄後角 / 三叉神経脊髄路核 / 覚醒反応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we have analyzed the nociceptive inputs to orexin-containing neurons (ORX neurons) in the hypothalamus. The results were as follows: 1)lateral parabrachial (lPBN) neurons that sent projection fibers to the ORX neurons-containing hypothalamic area were activated by nociceptive inputs; 2) these lPBN neurons received projection fibers from the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as well as from the caudal subnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vsp); 3) lPBN-projecting neurons in the dorsal horn and caudal subnucleus of the Vsp were glutamatergic.
These data suggest that nociceptive inputs activate hypothalamic ORX neurons through the pathways from the dorsal horn and the caudal subnucleus of the Vsp to these neurons via the lPBN, resulting in producing arousal response.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学