A hindbrain inhibitory microcircuit mediates vagally-coordinated glucose regulation.

Neurons in the brainstem dorsal vagal complex integrate neural and humoral signals to coordinate autonomic output to viscera that regulate a variety of physiological functions, but how this circuitry regulates metabolism is murky. We tested the hypothesis that premotor, GABAergic neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) form a hindbrain micro-circuit with preganglionic parasympathetic motorneurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) that is capable of modulating systemic blood glucose concentration. In vitro, neuronal activation or inhibition using either excitatory or inhibitory designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) constructs expressed in GABAergic NTS neurons increased or decreased, respectively, action potential firing of GABAergic NTS neurons and downstream synaptic inhibition of the DMV.

Altered A-type potassium channel function in the nucleus tractus solitarii in acquired temporal lobe epilepsy.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is among the leading causes of death in people with epilepsy. Individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have a high risk for SUDEP because the seizures are often medically intractable. Neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) have been implicated in mouse models of SUDEP and play a critical role in modulating cardiorespiratory and autonomic output.