Anatomy and Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System / 대한평형의학회지

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) integrates the function of the internal organs for the homeostasis against various external environmental changes. The efferent components of the ANS are regulated by sensory signals arising from the viscera as well as non-visceral organs. The central neural networks that integrate these sensory signals and modify visceral motor output are complex, and synaptic reflexes formed in the brainstem and spinal cord integrate behavioral responses and visceral responses through the central neural networks. A detailed understanding of the neural network presented above may explain the role of the vestibular system on the homeostasis more extensively.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE INTERMEDIOLATERAL NUCLEUS OF THE LUMBAR AND SACRAL SPINAL CORD OF THE RABBI: TNEUROPIL AND SYNAPSES / 解剖学报

The neuropil in the area of the nucleus intermediolateralis is compossed of dendrites, axons, axonal terminals, synapses and processes of the neuroglia passed through them. The dendrites are scattered and variant in size and shape. Small axons, on the other hand, usually have regular contours and tend to travel in bundles. Three types of synaptic connections were found, the axo-dendritic, axo-sometic and axo-axonic synapses. Some of the synapses form glomerulus in which the dendrite or the axon may be the center. The presynaptic terminals contain numerous synaptic vesicles of various patterns. The pre-and postsynaptic membranes may be asymetrical or symetrical. According to the shape of the synaptic vesicles and the relative thickness of the pre-and postsynaptic membrane the synapses may be classified into three types: 1, spheric vesicle asymetrical type, 2, flattened vesicle symetrical type, and 3, intermediate type.

THE LOCALIZATION OF PERIPHERAL EFFERENT AND ASCENDING PROJECTION NEURONS IN THE LUMBOSACRAL "VISCERAL FIELD" OF THE RAT——FLUORO-GOLD AND HRP TRACING STUDY / 解剖学报

In the present study, the fluoro-gold(FG) and horseradish peroxidase(HRP) combined tracing method was used to investigate the localization of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons and ascending projection neurons in lumbosacral spinal cord of the rat. FG was injected into the lateral parabrachial nucleus(PBL) or into Barrington's nucleus on one side, and HRP was applied to the contralateral pelvic nerve. The retrogradely FG-labeled neurons were found in bilateral "visceral field" at segments L_5-S_2, and the majority of them were concentrated in the intermediolateral nucleus (IML), and the dorsal commissural nucleus (DCN). In addition to these areas, some labeled neurons were also observed in bilateral lamina I and lateral spinal nucleus (LSN). The parasympathetic preganglionic neurons labeled with HRP were seen in the IML at segments L_6-S_1, occasionally appeared in the intercalated nucleus. In the IML area, HRP-labeled parasympathetic preganglionic neurons were located in its ventral part, however, the localization of FG-labeled neurons projected to the PBL and Barrington's nucleus were mainly found in the dorsal and dorsomedial part of the IML, and a few FG-labeled cells were scattered among HRP-labeled cells. Based on the present and other investigations, the nomenclature, organization and function of the IML and the composition of the LSN were discussed.