Somatostatin (SOM) immunoreactive varicosities and cell bodies are present in the spinal cord. Although SOM immunoreactive cell bodies are evident throughout the gray matter, SOM varicosities are most numerous in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn and lamina X. Physiological and anatomical studies have suggested that SOM plays a role in various spinal functions including nociception. We hypothesize that SOM plays a role in the processing of somatosensory information, possibly including nociception via undefined spinal circuits. By combining immunohistochemistry to label SOM structures and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) histochemistry to label primary afferents and ascending projection cells in the spinal cord we propose experiments to determine: 1) whether SOM cells and varicosities interact with primary afferents and spinal cord neurons that send ascending projections to nuclei in the brainstem; 2) if specific populations of SOM cells located in the spinal cord send ascending projections to the brainstem. These experiments will provide baseline data for future developmental and experimental studies of spinal SOM systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS023159-03
Application #
3406375
Study Section
Neurology A Study Section (NEUA)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1991-06-30
Budget Start
1989-07-01
Budget End
1991-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
098987217
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210