Neurochemical organization of the nucleus paramedianus dorsalis in the human

Joan S. Baizer*, James F. Baker, Kristin Haas, Raquel Lima

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have characterized the neurochemical organization of a small brainstem nucleus in the human brain, the nucleus paramedianus dorsalis (PMD). PMD is located adjacent and medial to the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (PH) in the dorsal medulla and is distinguished by the pattern of immunoreactivity of cells and fibers to several markers including calcium-binding proteins, a synthetic enzyme for nitric oxide (neuronal nitric oxide synthase, nNOS) and a nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (antibody SMI-32). In transverse sections, PMD is oval with its long axis aligned with the dorsal border of the brainstem. We identified PMD in eight human brainstems, but found some variability both in its cross-sectional area and in its A-P extent among cases. It includes calretinin immunoreactive large cells with oval or polygonal cell bodies. Cells in PMD are not immunoreactive for either calbindin or parvalbumin, but a few fibers immunoreactive to each protein are found within its central region. Cells in PMD are also immunoreactive to nNOS, and immunoreactivity to a neurofilament protein shows many labeled cells and fibers. No similar region is identified in atlases of the cat, mouse, rat or monkey brain, nor does immunoreactivity to any of the markers that delineate it in the human reveal a comparable region in those species. The territory that PMD occupies is included in PH in other species. Since anatomical and physiological data in animals suggest that PH may have multiple subregions, we suggest that the PMD in human may be a further differentiation of PH and may have functions related to the vestibular control of eye movements.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)45-52
Number of pages8
JournalBrain research
Volume1176
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 24 2007

Keywords

  • Calbindin
  • Calretinin
  • Cerebellum
  • Eye movements
  • Nitric oxide
  • Nucleus prepositus hypoglossi
  • Parvalbumin
  • Vestibular nuclear complex

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Neurochemical organization of the nucleus paramedianus dorsalis in the human'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this