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W W Blessing

Publications and source records attributed to W W Blessing.

132 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Simultaneous fixation and production of catecholamine fluorescence in central nervous tissue by perfusion with aldehydes.

Perfusion with a mixture of formaldehyde (4%) and glutaraldehyde (0.5%) is shown both to fix central nervous tissue and to produce, with no further treatment, a fluorescence histochemical localization of catecholamines. After perfusion, serial sections can be readily taken through the whole brain with a Vibratome. Landmarks which are apparent at low power with white-light illumination can be seen when the sections are viewed in the fluorescence microscope. Catecholamine-containing nerve cell bodies, varicose axon terminals and non-varicose nerve fibres appear brightly fluorescent and well localized. The method has been applied to rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits and is ideally suited to the accurate mapping of central catecholamine neurons and their processes.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Hypothalamic projections of medullary catecholamine neurons in the rabbit: a combined catecholamine fluorescence and HRP transport study.

Injections of horseradish peroxidase into the rabbit hypothalamus, centered on the paraventricular nucleus, result in retrograde transport to A1 and A2 neurons in the medulla oblongata, in a bilateral distribution with ipsilateral predominance. Some HRP labeled cells in both A1 and A2 areas do not exhibit a positive histochemical reaction for catecholamines, but, in the A1 area, nearly all HRP-positive neurons are catecholamine-containing A1 cells. Injection of radioisotope into the A1 area of the rabbit results in terminal labeling within the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. This study complements previous work showing that rabbit A1 and A2 cells have minimal projections to the spinal cord.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Abdominal vagal inputs to catecholamine neurons in the ventrolateral medulla.

Stimulation of the abdominal vagus nerve increases arterial pressure and causes secretion of vasopressin. We have shown in rabbits that the arterial pressure increases are mediated by activation of barosensitive bulbospinal neurons in the C1 region of the rostral medulla. Secretion of vasopressin involves activation of neurons in the A1 region of the caudal ventrolateral medulla. Neuroanatomical studies with Fos indicate that approximately 50% of the C1 area cells are C1 neurons. Approximately 70% of the A1 area cells are A1 neurons. These neurons may mediate physiological responses occurring during abdominal malaise resulting from ingestion of toxins. Our discovery of a major excitatory input to A1 and C1 neurons from the abdominal vagus should prove useful in studies of the function of these neurons.

Abdomen↗