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Cited by 336Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyPain Mechanisms and Treatments

The distribution of oxytocin‐ and neurophysin‐stained fibers in the spinal cord of the rat and monkey

Swanson, L. W., McKellar, S.·1979·Journal of Comparative Neurology
DOI 10.1002/cne.901880108
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Abstract

Immunohistochemical methods have been used to describe the distribution of neurophysin I‐ and oxytocin‐stained fibers in the spinal cord. In albino rats of either sex, such fibers descend through the dorsal part of the lateral funiculus to the caudal end of the cord. Fibers leave the lateral funiculus to innervate the marginal zone of the dorsal horn at all levels, and the intermediolateral column at thoracic, lumbar and sacral levels. Some fibers course medially through the intermediate gray to end in the central gray, which is innervated at all levels, and also appears to be innervated by fibers descending in the central gray itself. A semiquantitative analysis shows that the density of terminal fields in the intermediolateral column, marginal zone, and central gray varies significantly at different levels. The intermediolateral column is preferentially innervated between T 1 ‐T 3 , T 9 ‐T 11 , and T 13 ‐L 2 . The nucleus intercalatus spinalis and the dorsal commissural nucleus (between T 13 and L 2 ), both of which contain preganglionic neurons, are densely innervated. In the monkey ( Macaca fascicularis ), neurophysin I‐ and oxytocin‐stained fibers descend through the lateral funiculus to the filum terminale, where some of them enter the pia‐arachnoid surrounding the filum. The intermediolateral column is not innervated between T 1 ‐T 3 , is sparsely innervated at sacral levels, and is moderately innervated between T 4 and L 3 ; the greatest density of fibers occurs at L 3 . At most levels, few if any fibers are found in the central gray and marginal zone; the central gray is sparsely innervated between T 8 and L 2 , at S 2 , and between Co 3 ‐Co 6 , and the marginal zone contains a small number of fibers in the region of S 2 and Co 6 . Neurophysin I‐ and oxytocin‐stained fibers were also found in the intermediolateral column, marginal zone, and central gray of homozygous Brattleboro, spontaneously hypertensive, and Egyptian sand rats. The results suggest that the paraventriculo‐spinal pathway is particularly related to specific groups of sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons, and to the marginal zone, which is involved in the relay of ascending nociceptive information through the spinothalamic tract.

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  • One mechanism of oxytocin antinociception involves engagement of GABA-mediated inhibitory circuits at superficial layers of spinal cord dorsal horn neurones, which express oxytocin receptors and receive direct projections from hypothalamic oxytocin neurones, reducing Aδ/C-fibre afferent signalling and ascending nociceptive input.

    “One mechanism involves the engagement of GABA‐mediated inhibitory circuits at the superficial layers of spinal cord dorsal horn neurones, which express oxytocin receptors 7 and receive direct projections from hypothalamic oxytocin neurones 8, 9, reducing Aδ/C‐fibre afferent signalling and ascending nociceptive input 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.”

    From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [9]

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Authors
Swanson, L. W., & McKellar, S.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
ORCID
Swanson, L. W.
Venue
Journal of Comparative Neurology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1979-11
Volume
188
Issue
1
Pages
87-106
ISSN
  • 0021-9967 (ISSN-L)
  • 1096-9861
DOI
10.1002/cne.901880108
OpenAlex
W2088007298
Cited by
336
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
FWCI
24.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 9109 d)
Locations
  • The Journal of Comparative Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
oxytocin, neurophysin I, spinal cord, intermediolateral cell column, periaqueductal gray, marginal zone, lateral funiculus, preganglionic neurons, sympathetic innervation, parasympathetic innervation, filum terminale, spinothalamic tract, nociception, Brattleboro rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats, rats, monkeys
MeSH terms
Animals, Haplorhini, Arachnoid, Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic, Cauda Equina, Efferent Pathways, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Ganglia, Parasympathetic, Ganglia, Sympathetic, Macaca fascicularis, Male, Neurophysins, Oxytocin, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus, Pia Mater, Species Specificity, Spinal Cord, Rats

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