Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy induces NADPH diaphorase in the rat dorsal motornucleus of the vagus

Axotomy of the vagal motor neurons by cervical vagotomy induces NADPH diaph orase staining due to increased nitric oxide synthase expression in both th e rat dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguous; furthermore, cerical vago tomy leads to cell death of the dorsal motor nucleus cells. Subdiaphragmati c vagotomy axotomizes the vagal motor cells further from the brainstem than cervical vagotomy, and cuts the fibers running only to the abdominal visce ra. Here we report that subdiaphragmatic vagotomy is sufficient to induce N ADPH diaphorase staining in the dorsal motor nucleus but does not induce st aining in the nucleus ambiguus. Because the neurons of the dorsal motor nuc leus do not undergo cell death after subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and are able to re-enervate the gut, the increased nitric oxide synthase expression aft er distal axotomy may be related more to regeneration than degeneration.