Subpallidal-pedunculopontine projections but not subpallidal-mediodorsal thalamus projections contribute to spontaneous exploratory locomotor activity.
The contribution of the pedunculopontine nucleus to exploratory locomotion was investigated in rats. Locomotor activity recorded in a standard open-field apparatus was increased more than two-fold when wooden panels were inserted. This novelty-elicited locomotion was reduced significantly when procaine was injected bilaterally into the pedunculopontine nucleus but not when procaine was injected bilaterally into the mediodorsal thalamus, a second major projection site of the subpallidal area. These results support observations from earlier studies implicating hippocampal-accumbens-subpallidal-pedunculopontine projections in exploratory locomotion.
Mogenson
G J
GJ
Department of Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Wu
M
M
Tsai
C T
CT
D000818:Animals; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*