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Researchers identified the brain

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gastroenterology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Chronic constipation negatively impacts quality of life.
  • Defecation relies on anorectal motility coordinated by the central nervous system.
  • Brain regulation of defecation remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify the brain regions controlling defecation (defecation brain area - DBA).
  • Investigate the roles of specific neuronal populations in defecation control.
  • Elucidate the neural pathways regulating distal colon motility.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pseudorabies virus (PRV) for trans-synaptic tracing to identify DBAs.
  • Employed optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques to manipulate neuronal activity.
  • Performed in vivo neural activity monitoring during defecation.

Main Results:

  • Identified Barrington's nucleus (Bar), locus coeruleus (LC), ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) as key DBAs.
  • Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2) neurons in Bar and LC, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in Bar mediate prompt and delayed colonic contractions, respectively.
  • PVHVGluT2 and vlPAGCRH neurons act upstream of BarVGluT2 neurons, influencing defecation.

Conclusions:

  • Barrington's nucleus (Bar) functions as the pontine defecation brain area (DBA).
  • BarVGluT2 and BarCRH neurons differentially regulate prompt and delayed defecation.
  • PVHVGluT2 and vlPAGCRH neurons are upstream regulators of defecation via the BarVGluT2 pathway.