UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Preproglucagon (PPG) neurons innervate neurochemically identified autonomic neurons in the mouse brainstem

Llewellyn-Smith, IJ; Gnanamanickam, GJ; Reimann, F; Gribble, FM; Trapp, S; (2013) Preproglucagon (PPG) neurons innervate neurochemically identified autonomic neurons in the mouse brainstem. Neuroscience , 229 130 - 143. 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.09.071. Green open access

[thumbnail of Trapp_NSC-12-587R1.pdf]
Preview
Text
Trapp_NSC-12-587R1.pdf

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Preproglucagon (PPG) neurons produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and occur primarily in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). GLP-1 affects a variety of central autonomic circuits, including those controlling the cardiovascular system, thermogenesis, and most notably energy balance. Our immunohistochemical studies in transgenic mice expressing YFP under the control of the PPG promoter showed that PPG neurons project widely to central autonomic regions, including brainstem nuclei. Functional studies have highlighted the importance of hindbrain receptors for the anorexic effects of GLP-1. In this study, we assessed YFP innervation of neurochemically identified brainstem neurons in transgenic YFP-PPG mice. Immunoreactivity for YFP plus choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and/or serotonin (5-HT) was visualised with two- or three-colour immunoperoxidase labelling using black (YFP), brown and blue-grey reaction products. In the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), terminals from fine YFP-immunoreactive axons closely apposed a small proportion of ChAT-positive and rare TH-positive/ChAT-positive motor neurons, mostly ventral to AP. YFP-immunoreactive innervation was virtually absent from the compact and loose formations of the nucleus ambiguus. In the NTS, some TH-immunoreactive neurons were closely apposed by YFP-containing axons. In the A1/C1 column in the ventrolateral medulla, close appositions on TH-positive neurons were more common, particularly in the caudal portion of the column. A single YFP-immunoreactive axon usually provided 1-3 close appositions on individual ChAT- or TH-positive neurons. Serotonin-immunoreactive neurons were most heavily innervated, with the majority of raphé pallidus, raphé obscurus and parapyramidal neurons receiving several close appositions from large varicosities of YFP-immunoreactive axons. These results indicate that GLP-1 neurons innervate various populations of brainstem autonomic neurons. These include vagal efferent neurons and catecholamine neurons in areas linked with cardiovascular control. Our data also indicate a synaptic connection between GLP-1 neurons and 5-HT neurons, some of which might contribute to the regulation of appetite.

Type: Article
Title: Preproglucagon (PPG) neurons innervate neurochemically identified autonomic neurons in the mouse brainstem
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.09.071
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.09.0...
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords: Animals, Autonomic Nervous System, Autonomic Pathways, Brain Stem, Choline O-Acetyltransferase, Female, Male, Mice, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Proglucagon, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Neuro, Physiology and Pharmacology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1411243
Downloads since deposit
136Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item