USE OF C-FOS FUNCTIONAL MAPPING TO IDENTIFY THE CENTRAL BARORECEPTOR REFLEX PATHWAY - ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

Prolonged stimulation of many neurons results in the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos, which in turn cause the production of the protein Fos, whose presence in a cell can be detected by immunocytoch emistry. This method has been used in both conscious and anaesthetized animals to identify central neurons involved in the baroreceptor refl ex. In this paper we review the factors that can influence c-fos expre ssion, with particular emphasis on the effects of different anaestheti c agents. We conclude that the c-fos method of functional mapping, whe n applied carefully and critically, is a very useful method of identif ying central neurons that are activated by cardiovascular stimuli in c onscious animals. Anaesthetic agents can significantly alter c-fos exp ression, and this effect differs greatly according to the type of anae sthetic used.