The nucleus paragigantocellularis (nPGi) is a part of the
brain
A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a ve ...
, located in the
rostral ventral medulla.
It is a key
brainstem region involved in the expression of cardiovascular and respiratory changes that occur following
sympathetic activation. The nPGi is one of two major
afferents of the
locus coeruleus (LC), and sends collateral projections to the LC and to the
nucleus of the solitary tract
In the human brainstem, the solitary nucleus, also called nucleus of the solitary tract, nucleus solitarius, and nucleus tractus solitarii, (SN or NTS) is a series of purely sensory
nuclei (clusters of nerve cell bodies) forming a vertical column ...
(NTS). Neurons in this region have also been associated with analgesia processes. Consistent with this, PGi neurons have widespread distributions to brain areas that are important for controlling
autonomic activity and
nociception.
References
{{Neuroanatomy-stub
Brainstem