Fos-like immunoreactivity in the brain stem following oral quinine stimulation in decerebrate rats

The present study compared the distribution of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) following intraoral stimulation with quinine monohydrochloride (QHCl) in awake intact rats to the pattern obtained in chronic supracollicular decerebrate (CD) rats. Because the behavioral rejection response to QHCl is evident in the CD rat, it was hypothesized that the pattern of FLI in the lower brain stem should be similar in both groups. Overall, the distribution of FLI in the brain stem was quite similar in both intact and CD groups, and QHCI stimulation increased FLI in the rostral (gustatory) nucleus of the solitary tract, the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), and the lateral reticular formation (RF) compared with an unstimulated control group. The CD group differed from the intact group, however, with a trend toward less FLI in the RF and a shift in the pattern of label away from the external subdivision of the PEN. CD rats also had increased FLI in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, with or without intraoral infusions. The distribution of QHCl-induced FLI in the brain stem of intact rats thus indicates both local sensorimotor processing as well as the influence of forebrain structures.