Biomaterial Database

Nicotine-induced fos expression in the pedunculopontine mesencephalic tegmentum in the rat. 2000

A José Lança, and T R Sanelli, and W A Corrigall

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Toronto, Canada. aj.lanca@utoronto.ca

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single dose of nicotine (NIC, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg, s.c.), after survival times of 30, 60 or 120 min, on immediate early gene expression in the pedunculopontine mesencephalic tegmentum (PMT), using Fos-immunocytochemistry. Either doses of NIC strongly increased Fos-immunoreactivity in both the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) and the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDTg), as compared to the saline controls, at 30 min and 60 min. In comparison, the effects of NIC-induced Fos expression in the caudate-putamen (CP) were not as strong as the ones observed in the PPTg and LDTg. In fact, at 30 min the 0.3 mg/kg dose of NIC did not induce Fos-expression, unlike the PPTg and LDTg. The CP response was more noticeable in the mediodorsal than in the laterodorsal region. Double-labelling studies using Fos-immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry for cholinergic cells in the PPTg and LDTg revealed that, in general, cholinergic neurons had Fos negative nuclei, although double-labelled neurons were occasionally seen in the PPTg. In conclusion, systemically administered NIC activates the neuronal population of the PPTg and the LDTg possibly by directly targeting nicotinic receptors that may be located in non-cholinergic neurons. We postulate that activation of these non-cholinergic neurons modulates the activity of cholinergic cells in the PMT, which in turn may alter dopamine release in the mesolimbic system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008297	Male		Males
D008636	Mesencephalon	The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems.	Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D009252	NADPH Dehydrogenase	A flavoprotein that reversibly oxidizes NADPH to NADP and a reduced acceptor. EC 1.6.99.1.	NADP Dehydrogenase,NADP Diaphorase,NADPH Diaphorase,Old Yellow Enzyme,TPN Diaphorase,Dehydrogenase, NADP,Dehydrogenase, NADPH,Diaphorase, NADP,Diaphorase, NADPH,Diaphorase, TPN,Enzyme, Old Yellow
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D010275	Parasympathetic Nervous System	The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system.	Nervous System, Parasympathetic,Nervous Systems, Parasympathetic,Parasympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Parasympathetic Nervous,Systems, Parasympathetic Nervous
D011149	Pons	The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM.	Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression