Yonsei Med J.  2001 Apr;42(2):215-219. 10.3349/ymj.2001.42.2.215.

Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy induces NADPH diaphorase in the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus

• Jahng JW
• Kim DG
• Houpt TA

• KMID: 720611
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2001.42.2.215

Abstract

Axotomy of the vagal motor neurons by cervical vagotomy induces NADPH diaphorase staining due to increased nitric oxide synthase expression in both the rat dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguous; furthermore, cerical vagotomy leads to cell death of the dorsal motor nucleus cells. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy axotomizes the vagal motor cells further from the brainstem than cervical vagotomy, and cuts the fibers running only to the abdominal viscera. Here we report that subdiaphragmatic vagotomy is sufficient to induce NADPH diaphorase staining in the dorsal motor nucleus but does not induce staining in the nucleus ambiguus. Because the neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus do not undergo cell death after subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and are able to re-enervate the gut, the increased nitric oxide synthase expression after distal axotomy may be related more to regeneration than degeneration.

Keyword

Axotomy; motor neurons; nucleus ambiguus; mitric oxide synthase

MeSH Terms

Animal
Fourth Ventricle/physiology*
Fourth Ventricle/enzymology*
Fourth Ventricle/cytology
Male
Motor Neurons/enzymology
NADPH Dehydrogenase/metabolism*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Vagotomy/methods*
Vagus Nerve/physiology*