脑干和杏仁中央核的谷氨酸能神经元参与甜味觉的传递与调制

Glutaminergic neurons expressing c-Fos in the brainstem and amygdala participate in signal transmission and integration of sweet taste

目的探讨谷氨酸能神经元是否参与甜味觉感知与调制的脑干和边缘前脑机制。方法口腔内给予SD大鼠蔗糖溶液和蒸馏水刺激之后,用荧光免疫组织化学方法,观察被激活神经元(c-Fos作为解剖标志)与谷氨酸阳性神经元(谷氨酸囊泡转运体3标记)在脑干和杏仁核中央核的表达。结果与对照组相比,口腔内给予甜味溶液刺激后,脑干和杏仁核内c-Fos阳性神经元显著增加,共表达神经元也显著增加。结论脑干和杏仁核中央核参与了甜味觉信息的传递和调控,该作用部分是由谷氨酸介导的。

Objective To examine the role of glutaminergic neurons in the transmission and integration of the sweat taste information in the brain stem and the amygdala.Methods Conscious Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to oral sweet taste or water（control） stimulations.The activated neurons were identified by detecting c-Fos expression in taste-related brain areas,and the glutaminergic neurons by detecting vesicular glutamate transpoter-3（VGLUT3）.Results Compared with control group,the rats with oral sucrose solution stimulation exhibited significantly increased c-Fos-expressing and double-labeled neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract（NST）,the parabrachial nucleus（PBN） and the amygdala.Conclusion Neurons in the NST,PBN and amygdala are activated after oral sweet taste stimulation.The sweet taste perception at different levels in the CNS is partly mediated by glutamate.