Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons send projections widely throughout the brain consistent with their role in regulating numerous homeostatic processes and mediating analgesia and reward. Recent data suggest that POMC neurons located in the rostral and caudal extents of the arcuate nucleus of the hy...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Connie M King, Shane T Hentges
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186811?pdf=render
_version_ 1811231781187223552
author Connie M King
Shane T Hentges
author_facet Connie M King
Shane T Hentges
author_sort Connie M King
collection DOAJ
description Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons send projections widely throughout the brain consistent with their role in regulating numerous homeostatic processes and mediating analgesia and reward. Recent data suggest that POMC neurons located in the rostral and caudal extents of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus may mediate selective actions, however it is not clear if POMC neurons in these regions of the arcuate nucleus innervate specific target sites. In the present study, fluorescent microspheres and cholera toxin B were used to retrogradely label POMC neurons in POMC-DsRed transgenic mice. The number and location of POMC cells projecting to the supraoptic nucleus, periaqueductal gray, ventral tegmental area, paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus, amygdala and the dosal vagal complex was determined. Tracer injected unilaterally labeled POMC neurons in both sides of the arcuate nucleus. While the total number of retrogradely labeled cells in the arcuate nucleus varied by injection site, less than 10% of POMC neurons were labeled with tracer injected into any target area. Limited target sites appear to be preferentially innervated by POMC neurons that reside in the rostral or caudal extremes of the arcuate nucleus, whereas the majority of target sites are innervated by diffusely distributed POMC neurons. The modest number of cells projecting to each target site indicates that relatively few POMC neurons may mediate potent and specific physiologic responses and therefore disturbed signaling in a very few POMC neurons may have significant consequences.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T10:50:50Z
format Article
id doaj.art-31d4d617925845e9a348930cc936c94c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T10:50:50Z
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-31d4d617925845e9a348930cc936c94c2022-12-22T03:36:14ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-01610e2586410.1371/journal.pone.0025864Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.Connie M KingShane T HentgesProopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons send projections widely throughout the brain consistent with their role in regulating numerous homeostatic processes and mediating analgesia and reward. Recent data suggest that POMC neurons located in the rostral and caudal extents of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus may mediate selective actions, however it is not clear if POMC neurons in these regions of the arcuate nucleus innervate specific target sites. In the present study, fluorescent microspheres and cholera toxin B were used to retrogradely label POMC neurons in POMC-DsRed transgenic mice. The number and location of POMC cells projecting to the supraoptic nucleus, periaqueductal gray, ventral tegmental area, paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic nucleus, amygdala and the dosal vagal complex was determined. Tracer injected unilaterally labeled POMC neurons in both sides of the arcuate nucleus. While the total number of retrogradely labeled cells in the arcuate nucleus varied by injection site, less than 10% of POMC neurons were labeled with tracer injected into any target area. Limited target sites appear to be preferentially innervated by POMC neurons that reside in the rostral or caudal extremes of the arcuate nucleus, whereas the majority of target sites are innervated by diffusely distributed POMC neurons. The modest number of cells projecting to each target site indicates that relatively few POMC neurons may mediate potent and specific physiologic responses and therefore disturbed signaling in a very few POMC neurons may have significant consequences.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186811?pdf=render
spellingShingle Connie M King
Shane T Hentges
Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
PLoS ONE
title Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
title_full Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
title_fullStr Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
title_full_unstemmed Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
title_short Relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites.
title_sort relative number and distribution of murine hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons innervating distinct target sites
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3186811?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT conniemking relativenumberanddistributionofmurinehypothalamicproopiomelanocortinneuronsinnervatingdistincttargetsites
AT shanethentges relativenumberanddistributionofmurinehypothalamicproopiomelanocortinneuronsinnervatingdistincttargetsites