Mammillothalamic enkephalinergic pathway in the rat: an immunocytochemical analysis.
We studied the afferent sources of Leu-enkephalin (ENK) -like immunoreactive (ENKI) fibers in the anteroventral thalamic nucleus (AV) of the rat using experimental immunohistochemistry. These fibers were markedly fewer on the operated side after the destruction of the medial mammillary nucleus pars medialis where a number of ENKI cells were observed. This strongly suggests that these ENKI cells project ipsilaterally to the AV. ENKI fibers seemed to reach the AV via the mammillothalamic tract.
D000818:Animals; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism*
D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine