Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2013, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 435-440.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Transsynaptic tracing of CNS neural circuitry involved in the innervation of bladder function in the adult rat brainstem and spinal cord

SHENG Jun1,XIAO Liao-yuan2,ZHANG Yue-lei1,LIN Hao-dong1,HOU Chun-lin1   

  1. 1.Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital; 2.Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China
  • Received:2013-04-15 Online:2013-07-25 Published:2013-07-24

Abstract:

Objective To identify the CNS neural circuitry involved in the innervation of bladder function in the adult rat brainstem and spinal cord using pseudorabies virus,a transsynaptic tracer,so as to lay down the basis for further studying of brain functional reorganization after bladder function reconstruction. Methods GFP-PRV 4.5ul(1×108 PFU /ml)was injected into the bladder wall of 15 adult female SD rats at 3 different sites. The distribution of virus-infected neurons in the brainstem, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion were observed under fluorescent microscope at various intervals (72h, 84h, 96h, 108h, 120h) following the PRV injection. Results Fluorescence positive neurons were mainly present in L6~S1, L1~L2 dorsal root ganglion; sacral parasympathetic nucleus, intermediolateral cell column and dorsal commissural in L6~S1 and L1~L2 spinal cord segments; Barrington's nucleus, nucleus raphe magnus, the gigantocelluar reticular nucleus, the parapyramidal reticular formation, noradrenergic cell groups A5 and A7, locus coeruleus, periaqueductal gray and the ventral region of red nucleus in brainstem. Conclusion The structures labeled in spinal cord and brainstem are synaptically connected with the bladder and presumably involved in the neural control of the bladder.

Key words: Pseudorabies virus, Bladder, Micturition reflex pathways, Central nervous system

CLC Number: