The cholinergic system plays an important role in brain homeostasis and interacts with the neuropeptidergic systems, and the functional relationships between both systems are well known. However, in the brainstem the possible physiological interactions between neurokinins and acetylcholine are unknown, although both substances have been detected in the same brainstem nuclei and have been implicated in similar functions controlled from brainstem regions such as some cranial motor nuclei. The aim of this work is to determine whether these possible physiological interactions might have a neuroanatomical basis by means of the double immunohistochemical detection of neurokinins (NK) and the enzyme choline acetyl-transferase (ChAT) in the human brainstem. No double-labelled structures were detected, although both NK and ChAT were observed in cell bodies and fibers of the same brainstem nuclei. The distribution of immunoreactive fibers is widespread, and NK and ChAT were observed in several motor cranial nerves as well as in the substantia nigra. The results obtained in the present work provide a neuroanatomical basis for possible physiological interactions between NK and ChAT that may be carried out by volume-transmission mechanisms. These interactions might participate in motor regulation or in limbic pathways as well as influence on other neurotransmitter systems such as the dopaminergic system.

中文翻译：

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成人脑干胆碱能和速激能系统之间的神经解剖学关系：一项免疫组织化学研究

胆碱能系统在脑稳态中起着重要作用，并与神经肽能系统相互作用，两个系统之间的功能关系是众所周知的。然而，在脑干中，神经激肽和乙酰胆碱之间可能的生理相互作用是未知的，尽管这两种物质都在同一脑干核中被检测到，并且与脑干区域（如一些颅运动核）控制的类似功能有关。这项工作的目的是通过对人脑干中的神经激肽 (NK) 和酶胆碱乙酰转移酶 (ChAT) 进行双重免疫组织化学检测，确定这些可能的生理相互作用是否具有神经解剖学基础。未检测到双标记结构，尽管在同一脑干核的细胞体和纤维中观察到 NK 和 ChAT。免疫反应纤维分布广泛，在几个运动脑神经和黑质中观察到 NK 和 ChAT。在目前的工作中获得的结果为 NK 和 ChAT 之间可能的生理相互作用提供了神经解剖学基础，这种相互作用可能通过体积传输机制进行。这些相互作用可能参与运动调节或边缘通路，并影响其他神经递质系统，如多巴胺能系统。在目前的工作中获得的结果为 NK 和 ChAT 之间可能的生理相互作用提供了神经解剖学基础，这种相互作用可能通过体积传输机制进行。这些相互作用可能参与运动调节或边缘通路，并影响其他神经递质系统，如多巴胺能系统。在目前的工作中获得的结果为 NK 和 ChAT 之间可能的生理相互作用提供了神经解剖学基础，这种相互作用可能通过体积传输机制进行。这些相互作用可能参与运动调节或边缘通路，并影响其他神经递质系统，如多巴胺能系统。