Fos expression in ferret dorsal vagal complex after peripheral emetic stimuli

The aim of this study was to investigate neuronal activation in the dorsal vagal complex of the halothane-anesthetized ferret after peripheral emetic stimuli. Neuronal activity was studied by examining the distribution of the nuclear phosphoprotein Fos using immunohistochemistry. The emetic stimuli used were electrical stimulation of the supradiaphragmatic vagal communicating branch (SVCB) or intraduodenal injection of hypertonic saline. Electrical stimulation of the SVCB induced the densest Fos expression within the medial subnucleus of the nucleus of the solitary tract. After hypertonic saline injection, the greatest density of Fos-positive nuclei was observed within the area postrema and also in the medial subnucleus of the nucleus of the solitary tract. It was concluded that the emetic response to hypertonic saline involves neurons in both the area postrema and the nucleus of the solitary tract, especially the medial subnucleus, and that the medial subnucleus is important in the emetic response to SVCB stimulation.