The effect of air puff stress on c‐Fos expression in rat hypothalamus and brainstem: central circuitry mediating sympathoexcitation and baroreflex resetting

• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12521
• Publication Date: 2014-03-12T07:27:57Z
• Authors: Teri M. Furlong; Lachlan M. McDowall; Jouji Horiuchi; Jaimie W. Polson; Roger A. L. Dampney
• Keywords: Rostral ventrolateral medulla; Rostral ventromedial medulla

Abstract Psychological stress evokes increases in sympathetic activity and blood pressure, which are due at least part to an upward resetting of the baroreceptor‐sympathetic reflex. In this study we determined whether premotor neurons rostral ventrolateral medulla ( RVLM ), have a critical role reflex control activity, activated during air puff stress, moderate psychological stressor. Secondly, identified that by also project nucleus tractus solitarius NTS key site for modulation baroreceptor Air resulted increased c‐Fos expression several hypothalamic brainstem nuclei, including paraventricular PVN dorsomedial hypothalamus, perifornical area (PeF), periaqueductal gray PAG ventromedial medulla, but not region contains neurons. contrast, region, catecholamine‐synthesizing neurons, did express following induced hypotension, reflexly activates The highest proportion ‐projecting were double‐labelled with after was (29.3 ± 5.5%), smaller still significant proportions PeF (6.5 1.8 6.4 1.7%, respectively). results suggest is driven primarily , may contribute associated stress.