VIP-like immunoreactive projections from the dorsal raphe and caudal linear raphe nuclei to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis demonstrated by a double immunohistochemical method in the rat

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Jun 30;193(2):77-80. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(95)11669-n.

Abstract

To localize the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactive neurons at the origin of the plexuses of VIP-immunoreactive fibers found in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), we combined iontophoretic injections of the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B-subunit (CTb) with VIP immunocytochemistry. Following CTb injections in the BNST, 2 groups of retrogradely labeled neurons immunoreactive to VIP were detected: (1) a dorso-caudal group localized in the dorsal part of the dorsal raphe nucleus and the adjacent ventro-lateral part of the periaqueductal gray; and (2) a rostral group in the caudal linear raphe nucleus. No double-labeled cells were observed in other nuclei including those of the amygdala and the supramammillary nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic / chemistry
  • Cholera Toxin
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Neural Pathways
  • Neurons / chemistry
  • Raphe Nuclei / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / analysis*
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / immunology*

Substances

  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Cholera Toxin