CNS cell groups projecting to pancreatic parasympathetic preganglionic neurons.

The CNS cell groups that project to the pancreatic parasympathetic preganglionic neurons were identified by the viral retrograde transneuronal labeling method. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) was injected into the pancreas of C8 spinal rats and after 6 days survival, the animals were perfused and their brains processed for immunohistochemical detection of PRV. Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons of the dorsal vagal nucleus were retrogradely labeled with PRV. Several CNS cell groups consistently contained transneuronally labeled neurons. In the medulla oblongata, labeled neurons were found in the nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, paratrigeminal nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus, raphe pallidus and obscurus nuclei, C3 region and scattered cells in the ventral medullary reticular formation. In the pons, the A5 cell group, Barrington's nucleus and the subcoeruleus region contained labeled neurons. Only an occasional labeled cell was identified in the parabrachial nucleus. In the midbrain, almost no labeling was found except for an occasional neuron in the central gray matter. In the diencephalon, labeling was found in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) as well as in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus at two levels (one at the level of the PVN and the other at the level of the subthalamic nucleus). In addition, the perifornical and dorsal hypothalamic nuclei contained labeled neurons. A few cells were found in the peripheral part of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. No labeling was seen in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. In the telencephalon, the central amygdaloid nucleus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis were labeled.