The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and regulation of pancreatic secretory function

Abstract

New Findings

Hypothalamic-autonomic control of energy homeostasis

“…Recently, the DMV was demonstrated as one of the components of the pancreatic vagovagal reflex that includes pancreatic vagal afferents, the DMV, and pancreatic vagal efferents. Electrical and chemical stimulation of the DMV activates both endocrine and exocrine secretion via cholinergic pathways which can be blunted by vagotomy or chemical inhibition [167][168][169]. Activation of the DMV by bilateral microinjection of a GABA antagonist results in a rapid increase in glucose-induced insulin secretion, and this effect can be inhibited by a muscarinic receptor antagonist or significantly increased by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis [168].…”

Neural connection supporting endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine influence on autonomic activity in medial prefrontal cortex

“…Consistent with previous reports (Terreberry and Neafsey, 1983;Gabbott et al, 2005) were the labeled neurons distributed in lamina V of PrL/IL following tracers deposited at Sol. Functionally, these neurons should be those that can exert a top-down autonomic regulation, since their projection target Sol, as a major constituent of DVC, relays neural signals to (para)-sympathetic neurons located in such structures as DMV, ventral reticular formation, nucleus ambiguus and spinal cord to regulate autonomic activities (Raul, 2003;Saper, 2004;Comet et al, 2007;Mussa and Verberne, 2013). In addition, the PL/IL labeling, as was observed in the present study, was localized to lamina V ( Fig.…”

“…In addition, mPFC is actively involved in autonomic regulation, as is evidenced by the decreased gastric motility, hypotension and bradycardia following stimulation of the prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic cortices (IL) (Hurley-Gius and Neafsey, 1986;Heidbreder and Groenewegen, 2003;Sevoz-Couche et al, 2006;Hassan et al, 2013), the two important subdivisions of mPFC. Previous studies indicated that this autonomic effect might be mediated through divergent pathways including mPFC projections to brain stem dorsal vagal complex (DVC), which is composed of nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV) and area postrema, either directly or indirectly via relay of such structures as amygdala and hypothalamus (Saper, 2004;Gabbott et al, 2005;Sevoz-Couche et al, 2006;Mussa and Verberne, 2013). Thus, DVC plays a pivotal role in mediating descending control of autonomic activities.…”

The intricacies of the renin-angiotensin-system in metabolic regulation

“…For example, one such brain region to which AT2R are densely-localized is the NTS which, in addition to its influence on cardiovascular function, has a clear role in the regulation of metabolism [129, 130]. Furthermore, the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV) is widely recognized to impact metabolic function via vagal input to the pancreas and other organs comprising the gastrointestinal tract [131]. AT2R is localized to the DMNV and Ang-II has previously been found to excite neurons within this region [132].…”