Kozicz T, Arimura A
Medical Faculty, Pécs University, Pécs, Szigeti ut 12. H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
Brain Res. 2001 Mar 2;893(1-2):11-20. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(00)03118-8.
The lateral division of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTL) is an important forebrain structure that relays information between limbic structures and the hypothalamus. The BSTL displays a very dense calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive (-ir) fiber terminal network, and contains a substantial number of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-ir neurons. Several Met-enkephalin-ir perikarya have also been observed in the BSTL. The distributions of CRF- and Met-enkephalin-ir neurons and that of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-ir axon terminals overlap within the BSTL, suggesting synaptic connections between CRF- and Met-enkephalin-ir neurons and axon terminals immunoreactive for CGRP. Double staining immunohistochemistry revealed that CGRP-ir axon terminals were within close proximity to dendrites or perikarya of corticotropin releasing factor and Met-enkephalin-ir neurons. When viewed at the electron microscopic level, axodendritic or axosomatic synapses between CGRP-ir fiber terminals and neurons immunoreactive for CRF and Met-enkephalin were detected. Most of the CRF-ir neurons project to brainstem centers, which modulate the physiological changes accompanying stress, whereas the Met-enkephalin-ir perikarya are most likely interneurons that often colocalize with GABA. The parabrachial nucleus, a vital autonomic center, is the primary source of CGRP-ir fiber terminals to the BSTL. The synaptic contacts between the CGRP axon terminals and CRF- and Met-enkephalin-ir neurons underlie the importance of connections between autonomic brainstem centers and BSTL, which can be fundamental in the modulatory control of endocrine, physiological and behavioral responses during stress.
终纹床核外侧部（BSTL）是一个重要的前脑结构，在边缘系统结构和下丘脑之间传递信息。BSTL呈现出非常密集的降钙素基因相关肽免疫反应性（-ir）纤维终末网络，并且包含大量促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）免疫反应性神经元。在BSTL中也观察到了几个甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性胞体。CRF和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性神经元以及降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）免疫反应性轴突终末的分布在BSTL内重叠，这表明CRF和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性神经元与CGRP免疫反应性轴突终末之间存在突触联系。双重免疫组织化学染色显示，CGRP免疫反应性轴突终末紧邻促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性神经元的树突或胞体。在电子显微镜水平观察时，检测到CGRP免疫反应性纤维终末与CRF和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性神经元之间存在轴树突触或轴体突触。大多数CRF免疫反应性神经元投射到脑干中枢，这些中枢调节伴随应激的生理变化，而甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性胞体很可能是中间神经元，它们常与GABA共定位。臂旁核是一个重要的自主神经中枢，是向BSTL投射CGRP免疫反应性纤维终末的主要来源。CGRP轴突终末与CRF和甲硫氨酸脑啡肽免疫反应性神经元之间的突触联系是自主神经脑干中枢与BSTL之间连接重要性的基础，这在应激期间内分泌、生理和行为反应的调节控制中可能至关重要。
