PKC?-CONTAINING NEURONS IN THE MEDULLARY AND SPINAL DORSAL HORNS PROJECTING TO THE MIDBRAIN PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY IN THE RAT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To examine the projection of protein kinase C? isoform(PKC?)\|immunoreactive neurons from the medullary and spinal dorsal horns to the midbrain periaqueductal gray(PAG) in the rat. Methods By using fluoro\|gold(FG) retrograde tracing combined with immunofluorescence histochemical staining for PKC?. Results PKC?\|immunoreactive neurons were observed in laminae Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ of the medullary and spinal dorsal horns and lateral spinal nucleus.After injecting FG into the PAG,FG retrogradely labeled neurons were also mainly found in laminae Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ of the medullary and spinal dorsal horns and lateral spinal nucleus.Some of these FG\|labeled neurons in laminae Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ of the medullary and spinal dorsal horns and lateral spinal nucleus exhibited PKC?\|immunoreactivities.Conclusion\ PKC?\|immunoreactive neurons in the medullary and spinal dorsal horns might be involved in the transmission of nociceptive information from the medullary and spinal dorsal horns to the PAG.\;[