Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Neuroscience. 2022 Aug 21;498:93-104. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.07.002. Epub 2022 Jul 6.
The centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWcp) has been shown to contribute to regulation of multiple functions, including responses to stress and fear, attention, food consumption, addiction, body temperature and maternal behaviors. However, receptors involved in regulation of these behaviors through EWcp remain poorly characterized. On the other hand, the oxytocin peptide (OXT) is also known to regulate a substantial number of physiological responses and behaviors. Here we show that mRNA encoding OXT receptors (Oxtr) is expressed in EWcp of male and female C57BL/6J mice. These receptors are present on urocortin 1 (Ucn) mRNA-containing neurons and, to a lesser extent, on neurons in EWcp expressing the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2) mRNA of EWcp. Using RNAscope in situ hybridization, we show that neurons containing Ucn and Vglut2 mRNAs are two intermingled, but independent subpopulations in EWcp and characterize their relationship with other populations of neurons in the vicinity of this nucleus. Using immunohistochemistry, we show that intraperitoneal (IP) administration of OXT can induce FOS in Oxtr-containing neurons, suggesting that these receptors on EWcp neurons are functional. A follow up study showed that injection of OXT (2.3 or 7.7 mg/kg, IP) is accompanied by a decrease in body temperature. Since EWcp is known to be involved in regulation of body temperature, we hypothesize that OXT's effects on body temperature could be mediated through the EWcp. The contribution of OXTR in EWcp to regulation of various functions of EWcp and OXT needs to be deciphered.
中央投射的 Edinger-Westphal 核（EWcp）已被证明有助于调节多种功能，包括对压力和恐惧、注意力、食物摄入、成瘾、体温和母性行为的反应。然而，通过 EWcp 调节这些行为的受体仍未得到很好的描述。另一方面，催产素肽（OXT）也被认为调节大量的生理反应和行为。我们在此表明，OXT 受体（Oxtr）的 mRNA 在雄性和雌性 C57BL/6J 小鼠的 EWcp 中表达。这些受体存在于 Ucn 1 （Ucn）mRNA 包含的神经元上，并且在程度上存在于 EWcp 中表达囊泡谷氨酸转运体 2 （Vglut2）mRNA 的神经元上。通过 RNAscope 原位杂交，我们表明 Ucn 和 Vglut2 mRNA 包含的神经元是 EWcp 中两个相互交织但独立的亚群，并描述了它们与该核附近其他神经元群体的关系。通过免疫组织化学，我们表明 OXT 的腹腔内（IP）给药可以诱导 Oxtr 包含的神经元中的 FOS，表明 EWcp 神经元上的这些受体具有功能。后续研究表明，OXT（2.3 或 7.7 mg/kg，IP）的注射伴随着体温下降。由于 EWcp 已知参与体温调节，我们假设 OXT 对体温的影响可能是通过 EWcp 介导的。需要阐明 EWcp 中的 OXTR 对 EWcp 和 OXT 各种功能的调节作用。
