Figure 3:

Immunohistochemical analysis of converging neurons from bladder and colon in different RVM nuclei of adult naïve rats. Stereotaxic representation of mid-level section (bregma −11.88 mm) showing RVM nuclei (a1, magenta dots) selected for analysis of PRV expression (Paxinos & Watson, 2006). Lower magnification images of bladder specific (GFP+) and colon specific (RFP+) neurons within the identified nuclei (a2-a3). The scale bar is 200µm. Higher magnification images showing distribution patterns of single labeled and double labeled neurons in RMg (b1-b3), Gi/GiA (c1-c3) and LpGi (d1-d3). The scale bar is 100µm. The white arrows represent convergent neurons in different RVM nuclei. Quantification of percentage of bladder and colon specific convergent neurons in different RVM nuclei (e). Data is represented as mean ± SEM, n=3 (3 sections/rat), For % bladder convergent neurons, *p<0.05 Gi/GiA vs RMg and LpGi, for % colon convergent neurons, #p<0.05 Gi/GiA vs RMg and LpGi. Comparison of PRV distribution among RVM nuclei were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc Bonferroni test.