Quattrochi JJ, Mamelak AN, Madison RD, Macklis JD, Hobson JA. Mapping neuronal inputs to REM sleep induction sites with carbachol-fluorescent microspheres. Science. 1989 Sep 01; 245(4921):984-6.

Citation

Quattrochi JJ, Mamelak AN, Madison RD, Macklis JD, Hobson JA. 1989. Mapping neuronal inputs to REM sleep induction sites with carbachol-fluorescent microspheres. Science (New York, N.Y.). 245(4921):984-6. Pubmed: 2475910

Abstract

The cholinergic agonist carbachol was conjugated to latex microspheres that were fluorescently labeled with rhodamine and used as neuroanatomical probes that show little diffusion from their injection site and retrogradely label neurons projecting to the injection site. Microinjection of this pharmacologically active probe into the gigantocellular field of the cat pontine brain stem caused the awake cats to fall into rapid movement (REM) sleep indistinguishable from that produced by free carbachol. Three-dimensional computer reconstruction of the retrogradely labeled neurons revealed a widely distributed neuronal network in the pontine tegmentum. These pharmacologically active microspheres permit a new precision in the characterization and mapping of neurons associated with the control of behavioral state and of other cholinergic networks.

Related Faculty

Jeffrey Macklis, M.D., D.Sc.Tech.

Macklis Lab

Jeffrey Macklis investigates molecular controls and mechanisms over neuron subtype specification, development, diversity, axon guidance-circuit formation, and pathology in the cerebral cortex. His lab seeks to apply developmental controls toward brain and spinal cord regeneration and directed differentiation for in vitro mechanistic modeling using human assembloids.