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Organisation and characteristics of gastric chemoceptive neurons in frog brain-stem

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Functional organisation of gastric chemoceptive projections in the brain-stem of single-pithed frogs was studied. The area between P 4·0–4·5, L 0·5–1·0 and V 0·0–0·5, has dense projections and is identifiable with fasciculus solitarius. Probit analysis of response characteristics of the parallel neurons in this area indicates that in addition to ‘across-neuron pattern’, spatio-temporal cues play an important role in conveying the quality message. Overall height of this pattern seems to indicate the intensity of the test material. The relative potency of test solutions used as stimulant is in the order: glucose > aminoacids > salt. It is suggested that the presence of glucose and aminoacids in the stomach may be important in relaying satiety signals. The fact that gastric chemoceptive afferents project to the areas of brain-stem implicated in gustatory responses is discussed in the light of oro-gastric interactions involved in food ingestion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, St. John’s Medical College, 560034, Bangalore

    T. Ramakrishna & K. N. Sharma F.A.Sc.

  2. Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Mental Health, 560027, Bangalore

    T. Ramakrishna & K. N. Sharma F.A.Sc.

Authors
  1. T. Ramakrishna
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  2. K. N. Sharma F.A.Sc.
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by PL-480 Grant NIH-01-015-1.

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Ramakrishna, T., Sharma, K.N. Organisation and characteristics of gastric chemoceptive neurons in frog brain-stem. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 82, 1–24 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050512

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050512

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