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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus-I: Efferents in the rat brain

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Dos Santos Junior, Edmilson D. [1] ; Da Silva, Andre V. [2, 1, 3] ; Da Silva, Kelly R. T. [2, 1] ; Haemmerle, Carlos A. S. [1] ; Batagello, Daniella S. [4, 1] ; Da Silva, Joelcimar M. [1] ; Lima, Leandro B. [5] ; Da Silva, Renata J. [1] ; Diniz, Giovanne B. [1] ; Sita, Luciane V. [1] ; Elias, Carol F. [1, 6] ; Bittencourt, Jackson C. [4, 1]
Total Authors: 12
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anat, Lab Chem Neuroanat, ICB, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci, Dept Anat, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, BR-79600080 Tres Lagoas, MS - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Ctr Neurosci & Behav, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[6] Univ Michigan, Dept Mol & Integrat Physiol, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 - USA
Total Affiliations: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy; v. 68, p. 22-38, OCT 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 13
Abstract

The oculomotor accessory nucleus, often referred to as the Edinger-Westphal nucleus {[}EW], was first identified in the 17th century. Although its most well known function is the control of pupil diameter, some controversy has arisen regarding the exact location of these preganglionic neurons. Currently, the EW is thought to consist of two different parts. The first part {[}termed the preganglionic EW-EWpg], which controls lens accommodation, choroidal blood flow and pupillary constriction, primarily consists of cholinergic cells that project to the ciliary ganglion. The second part {[}termed the centrally projecting EW-EWcp], which is involved in non-ocular functions such as feeding behavior, stress responses, addiction and pain, consists of peptidergic neurons that project to the brainstem, the spinal cord and prosencephalic regions. However, in the literature, we found few reports related to either ascending or descending projections from the EWcp that are compatible with its currently described functions. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to systematically investigate the ascending and descending projections of the EW in the rat brain. We injected the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine into the EW or the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B into multiple EW targets as controls. Additionally, we investigated the potential EW-mediated innervation of neuronal populations with known neurochemical signatures, such as melanin-concentrating hormone in the lateral hypothalamic area {[}LHA] and corticotropin-releasing factor in the central nucleus of the amygdala {[}CeM]. We observed anterogradely labeled fibers in the LHA, the reuniens thalamic nucleus, the oval part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial part of the central nucleus of the amygdala, and the zona incerta. We confirmed our EW-LHA and EW-CeM connections using retrograde tracers. We also observed moderate EW-mediated innervation of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the posterior hypothalamus. Our findings provide anatomical bases for previously unrecognized roles of the EW in the modulation of several physiologic systems. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 07/56975-9 - Study of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) immunoreactive inputs of nucleus acumbens, in rats Long-Evans
Grantee:Carlos Alexandre dos Santos Haemmerle
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
FAPESP's process: 04/13849-5 - Peptidergic pathways involved in the organization of feeding behavior
Grantee:Jackson Cioni Bittencourt
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 08/02771-6 - Connectivity, neurochemistry and behavioural evaluation of afferents to the first nucleus of the acoustic startle reflex neural circuit: the cochlear root nucleus
Grantee:José de Anchieta de Castro e Horta Júnior
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
FAPESP's process: 11/09816-8 - Anatomical substrate for the neuroendocrine role of the incerto-hypothalamic area
Grantee:Luciane Valéria Sita
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants