Effects of Apomorphine on the Activity of Neuron

• Main Authors: Wen-Chuan Hsiao, 蕭文銓
• Other Authors: Yat-Pang Chau, Ph.D
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04119663361313778681

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 解剖暨細胞生物學研究所 === 90 === Abstract This study is designed to investigate whether microinfusion of apomorphine into the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus（PVN）induces penile erection and significantly increases the extracellular dopamine, glutamate and nitric oxide concentration. Our results showed that infusion of apomorphine (30 ng/μl/min) into PVN significantly induced the penile erection and increased the extracellular dopamine, glutamate and nitric oxide levels in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. In addition, the Fos protein expression in paraventricular nucleus and nearby nuclei was detected by immunohistochemistry following administration of apomorphine. Compare with apomorphine- and aCSF- treated animals, the expression of Fos protein was found in paraventricular nucleus、subfornical nucleus、supraoptic nuclei、amygadala、anterodorsal thalamic nucleus and arcuate nuclei, respectively. Taken together, our findings suggest the apomorphine-induced penile erection by increasing the concentration of dopamine, glutamate and nitric oxide in paraventricular nucleus and activating the neuronal activities in paraventricular nucleus and its neighboring nuclei such as subfornical nucleus、supraoptic nuclei、amygadala、anterodorsal thalamic nucleus and arcuate nuclei.