Skip to main content
Log in

Anatomical relationships between the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum — A 10 region and the locus coeruleus as demonstrated by anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques

  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We have searched for anatomical connections between the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum (VMT), including the dopaminergic cell group A10 and the locus coeruleus (LC) region. Tritiated leucine (120–220 nl) and horseradish peroxidase delivered by electrophoresis were injected in the VMT-A10 region. We have demonstrated, on the one hand bilateral projections from the VMT-A10 region to LC, and on the other hand a possible contralateral projection from LC to VMT-A10 region. These relationships, reported for the first time may have some important functional significance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berger, B., Tassin, J. P., Blanc, G., Moyne, M. A., Thierry, A. M. Histochemical confirmation for dopaminergic innervation of the rat cerebral cortex after destruction of the noradrenergic ascending pathways. Brain Res.81, 332–337 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bobillier, P., Lewis, B. D., Seguin, S., Pujol, J. F. Evidence for direct anatomical connections between the raphe system and other aminergic groups of the central nervous system as revealed by autoradiography. In: Interactions between putative neurotransmitters in the brain (Garattini, S., Pujol, J. F., Samanin, R., eds.), pp. 319–342. New York: Raven Press. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, B. S., Aghajanian, G. K. Mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic systems: physiology and pharmacology. In: Psychopharmacology: a generation of progress (Lipton, M. A., Di Mascio, A., Killam, K. F., eds.), pp. 159–169. New York: Raven Press. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, D. A., Fibiger, H. C. Ascending projections of presumed dopamine containing neurons in the ventral tegmentum of the rat as demonstrated by horseradish peroxidase. Neuroscience2, 569–576 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, W. M., Cuénod, M.: The use of axonal transport for the study of neural connections: a retrospective survey. In: The use of axonal transport for studies of neuronal connectivity (Cowan, W. M., Cuénod, M., eds.), pp. 1–24. Elsevier. 1975.

  • Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K. Evidence for the existence of monoamine-containing neurons in the central nervous system. I. Demonstration of monoamines in the cell bodies of brain stem neurons. Acta Physiol. Scand., suppl.232, 1–55 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vito, J. L., Clausing, K. W., Smith, O. A. Uptake and transport of horseradish peroxidase by cut end of the vagus nerve. Brain Res.82, 269–271 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emson, P. C., Cuello, A. C., Paxinos, G., Jessell, T., Iversen, L. L. The origin of substance P and acetylcholine projections to the ventral tegmental area and interpeduncular nucleus in the rat. Acta Physiol. Scand., suppl.452, 43–46 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallon, J. H., Moore, R. Y.: Catecholamine innervation of the basal forebrain. IV. Topography of the dopamine projection to basal forebrain and neostriatum. J. Comp. Neurol. (1978, in press).

  • Fonnum, F., Walaas, I., Iversen, E. Localization of GABA-ergic, cholinergic and aminergic structures in the mesolimbic system. J. Neurochem.29, 221–230 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K., Hökfelt, T., Johansson, O., Jonsson, G., Lidbrink, P., Ljungdahl, A. The origin of dopamine nerve terminals in limbic frontal cortex. Evidence for meso-cortico dopamine neurons. Brain Res.82, 349–355 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galey, D., Simon, H., Le Moal, M. Behavioral effects of lesions in the A10 dopaminergic area of the rat. Brain Res.124, 83–97 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, R. C., Karnovsky, M. J. The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney: ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J. Histochem. Cytochem.14, 291–302 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graybiel, A. M.: Wallerian degeneration and anterograde tracer methods. In: The use of axonal transport for studies of neuronal connectivity (Cowan, W. M., Cuénod, M., eds.), pp. 173–216. Elsevier. 1975.

  • Herkenham, M., Nauta, W. J. H. Afferent connections of the habenular nuclei in the rat. A horseradish peroxidase study, with a note on the fiber of passage problem. J. Comp. Neurol.173, 123–146 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B., Moore, R. Y. Ascending projections of the locus coeruleus in the rat. II. Autoradiographic study. Brain Res.127, 23–53 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristensson, K., Olsson, Y. Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in transected axons. I. Time relationships between transport and induction of chromatolysis. Brain Res.79, 101–109 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Vail, J. H.: Retrograde cell degeneration and retrograde transport techniques. In: The use of axonal transport for studies of neuronal connectivity (Cowan, W. M., Cuénod, M., eds.), pp. 217–248. Elsevier. 1975.

  • Le Moal, M., Stinus, L., Simon, H., Tassin, J. P., Thierry, A. M., Blanc, G., Glowinski, J., Cardo, B. Behavioral effects of a lesion in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum: evidence for involvement of A10 dopaminergic neurons. In: Advances in biochemical psychopharmacology (Costa, E., Gessa, G. L., eds.), pp. 237–245. New York: Raven Press. (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindvall, O., Björklund, A., Moore, R. Y., Steveni, U. Mesencephalic dopamine neurons projecting to neocortex. Brain Res.81, 325–331 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McBride, R. L., Sutin, J. Projections of the locus coeruleus and adjacent pontine tegmentum in the cat. J. Comp. Neurol.165, 265–284 (1976).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mizuno, N., Nakamura, Y. Direct hypothalamic projections to the locus coeruleus. Brain Res.19, 160–163 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, K. E., Kelly, P. H. Biochemical pharmacology of mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic neurons. In: Psychopharmacology: a generation of progress (Lipton, M. A., Di Mascio, A., Killam, K. F., eds.), pp. 221–234. New York: Raven Press. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkovits, M., Saavedra, J. M., Kobayashi, R. M., Brownstein, M. Choline acetyltransferase content of limbic nuclei in the rat. Brain Res.79, 443–450 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pujol, J. F., Keane, P., McRae, A., Lewis, B. D., Renaud, B. Biochemical evidence for serotoninergic control of the locus coeruleus. In: Interactions between putative neurotransmitters in the brain (Garattini, S., Pujol, J. F., Samanin, R., eds.), pp. 401–410. New York: Raven Press. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saavedra, J. M., Brownstein, M., Palkovits, M. Serotonin distribution in the limbic system of the rat. Brain Res.79, 437–441 (1974).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, K., Touret, M., Salvert, D., Jouvet, M. Afferents to the cat locus coeruleus and rostral raphe nuclei as visualized by the horseradish peroxidase technique. In: Interactions between putative neurotransmitters in the brain (Garattini, S., Pujol, J. F., Samanin, R., eds.), pp. 319–342. New York: Raven Press. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H., Le Moal, M. Demonstration by the Fink-Heimer impregnating method of a ventral mesencephalic-locus coeruleus projection in the rat. Experientia33, 614–615 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H., Le Moal, M., Galey, D., Cardo, B. Silver impregnation of dopaminergic systems after radiofrequency and 6-OHDA lesions of the rat ventral tegmentum. Brain Res.115, 215–231 (1976).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H., Le Moal, M., Stinus, L., Calas, A.: Efferences and afferences of the ventral tegmental-A10 region studied after local injections of3H-leucine and horseradish peroxidase. (1978, submitted for publication.)

  • Simon, H., Stinus, L., Christolomme, A., Le Moal, M. Étude radioautographique préliminaire des efférences des neurones du mésencéphale ventral et du groupe dopaminergique A10. J. Physiol. (Paris)73, 56 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, J. R. An anatomy of schizophrenia. Arch. Gen. Psychiat.29, 177 to 189 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thierry, A. M., Blanc, G., Sobel, A., Stinus, L., Glowinski, J. Dopaminergic terminals in the rat cortex. Science182, 499–501 (1973).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ungerstedt, U. Stereotaxic mapping of the monoamine pathways in the rat brain. Acta Physiol. Scand., suppl.367, 1–48 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Versteeg, D. H. G., Van der Gugten, J., De Jong, W., Palkovits, M. Regional concentrations of noradrenaline and dopamine in rat brain. Brain Res.113, 563–574 (1976).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, P., Olpe, H. R., Avrith, D., Haas, H. L. GABA-ergic inhibition of neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Experientia15, 73–74 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simon, H., Le Moal, M., Stinus, L. et al. Anatomical relationships between the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum — A 10 region and the locus coeruleus as demonstrated by anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques. J. Neural Transmission 44, 77–86 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01252703

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01252703

Keywords

Navigation