title: Comparative aspects of basal forebrain organization in vertebrates.
abstract: The present survey shows that basal ganglia organization in the three classes of amniotes has many features in common. Yet, there are several differences that are important to note since they contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of those brain structures. They also underscore once again that it is questionable to generalize the results obtained in a certain species. This question is the more important in view of the general practice in mammalian research. Comparative studies may be of great help to solve this problem. The reported differences in acetylcholine release after pharmacological treatment in the striatum of rats and reptiles have stimulated further research that has led to the conclusion that the nucleus accumbens in the rat is a very heterogeneous structure with respect to the regulation of the release of acetylcholine by D2 dopamine and NMDA receptor activation. In this regard, the striatum of reptiles may offer a model for studying the functioning of the caudomedial part of the rat nucleus accumbens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Medical Faculty, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Smeets
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000737:chemistry; D004745:Enkephalins; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013373:Substance P; D014714:Vertebrates
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D013373:Substance P; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004298:Dopamine