Table 2.
Soma size and profile number of cNTS cells at the level of the AP.
| Cell group | Animal number | Soma size (μm2) | Profiles/section | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorsal cNTS | 2 | 106.5 ± 31.2 (47.0–258.7, n = 271) | ~1000* | ND, 1.9 × 105/mm3 |
| Ventral cNTS | 3 | 127.6 ± 42.1 (49.8–289.3, n = 404) | ~1200* | ND, 2.3 × 105/mm3 |
| PBL | 3 | 105.4 ± 29.1 (21.8–255.6, n = 982) | 333.5 ± 80.8 (211–414, n = 6) | 60.7 (% in the ventral region) |
| PAG | 4 | 105.7 ± 31.6 (35.8–250.0, n = 264) | 27.6 ± 9.3 (15–42, n = 13) | 88.7 (% in the ventral region) |
| PVH | 3 | 148.4 ± 47.7 (55.8–307.2, n = 223) | 23.4 ± 6.1 (18–35, n = 12) | 97.9 (% in the ventral region) |
| ACe | 3 | 128.8 ± 32.6 (52.0–229.5, n = 234) | 18.6 ± 6.0 (11–29, n = 15) | 98.5 (% in the ventral region) |
| BNST | 3 | 153.2 ± 58.6 (58.2–417.7, n = 255) | 21.6 ± 5.0 (16–31, n = 9) | 98.0 (% in the ventral region) |
Numbers and areas were counted and measured for NSE-immunopositive somal profiles identified stereologically in the dorsal and ventral cNTS (Figure 7) and for retrogradely labeled somal profiles in 50 μm thick sections, following injection of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) in PBL, periaqueductal gray (PAG), paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH), amygdaloid central nucleus (ACe) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST; Figure 5). *Values were calculated for 50 μm thick section volumes of respective portions of cNTS, based on the numerical density (ND). Statistical values are presented as the mean ± SD (range, number of samples).