- Periaqueductal gray
Infobox Brain
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = s. grisea centralis
GraySubject = 188
GrayPage = 806
Caption = Section throughsuperior colliculus showing path ofoculomotor nerve . Periaqueductal gray is the gray area just peripheral to the cerebral aqueduct.)
Caption2 = Coronal section throughmid-brain .
1.Corpora quadrigemina .
2.Cerebral aqueduct .
3. Central gray stratum.
4.Interpeduncular space .
5.Sulcus lateralis .
6.Substantia nigra .
7.Red nucleus oftegmentum .
8.Oculomotor nerve , with 8’, its nucleus of origin. a.Lemniscus (in blue) with a’ themedial lemniscus and a" thelateral lemniscus . b.Medial longitudinal fasciculus . c.Raphé . d.Temporopontine fibers . e. Portion ofmedial lemniscus , which runs to thelentiform nucleus andinsula . f.Cerebrospinal fibers . g.Frontopontine fibers .
IsPartOf =
Components =
Artery =
Vein =
Acronym =
BrainInfoType = hier
BrainInfoNumber = 501
MeshName = Periaqueductal+Gray
MeshNumber = A08.186.211.132.659.822.595
DorlandsPre = s_27
DorlandsSuf = 12766787Periaqueductal gray (PAG; also called the "central gray") is the
midbrain grey matter that is located around thecerebral aqueduct within themidbrain . It plays a role in the descending modulation ofpain and in defensive behaviour. The ascending pain and temperature fibers of thespinothalamic tract also send information to the PAG via the "spinomesencephalic tract". The spinomesencephalic tract is so-named because the fibers originate in the spine and terminate in themesencephalon , another name for the midbrain, which is the part of the brain in which the PAG resides.Role in Analgesia
Stimulation of the periaqueductal gray matter of the midbrain activates
enkephalin releasing neurons that project to the raphe nuclei in the brainstem. 5-HT (serotonin ) released from theraphe nuclei descends to thedorsal horn of the spinal cord where it forms excitatory connections with the "inhibitory interneurons" located in Laminae II (aka the substantia gelatinosa). When activated, these interneurons release either enkephalin or dynorphin (endogenous opioid neurotransmitters) which bind to mu opioid receptors* on the axons of incoming C and A-delta fibers carrying pain signals from nociceptors activated in the periphery. The activation of the mu-opioid receptor inhibits the release of substance P from these incoming first order neurons and in turn inhibits the activation of the second order neuron that is responsible for transmitting the pain signal up the spinothalamic tract to the ventroposteriolateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus. The nociceptive signal was inhibited before it was able to reach the cortical areas that interpret the signal as "pain" (such as the anterior cingulate). This is sometimes referred to as theGate control theory of pain and is supported by the fact that electrical stimulation of the PAG results in immediate and profound analgesia.*Three known kinds of opioid receptors have been identified- mu, kappa, and delta. Synthetic opioid and opioid-derivative drugs activate these receptors (possibly by acting on the PAG directly, where a dense amount of these receptors are expressed) to produce analgesia- including heroin, morphine, vicodin, and similar pain modulating compounds.
Role in defensive behavior
Stimulation of the dorsal and lateral aspects of the PAG [in the rat] can provoke defensive responses characterised by freezing immobility, running, jumping, tachycardia and increases in blood pressure and
muscle tonus . Conversely, stimulation of the caudal ventrolateral PAG can result in an immobile, relaxed posture known asquiescence , while its inhibition leads to increased locomotor activity.Lesions of the caudal ventrolateral PAG can greatly reduce conditioned freezing, while lesions of the dorsal aspect can reduce innate defensive behavior, virtually "taming" the animal.
Role in reproductive behavior
Neuron s of the PAG are excited byendorphins and byopiate analgesic s. It also plays a role infemale copulatory behavior (seeLordosis behavior ) via a pathway from the ventromedial nucleus of thehypothalamus .
=AdditionalExternal links
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.