Evidence for a glutamatergic input to pontine preganglionic neurons of the superior salivatory nucleus in rat.

Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons of the superior salivatory nucleus (SSN), which projects to the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG), modulate salivation, lacrimation, and cerebrovascular tone. Our previous studies suggest that excitatory projections from the nucleus tractus solitarii modulate cerebrovascular tone by actions on SSN neurons. In this study we sought to test the hypothesis that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type glutamate receptors and vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT) are present in the SSN and that SSN neurons receive glutamatergic input.