Dopamine- and cholecystokinin-containing neurons of the crossed mesostriatal projection.
The projection of the substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area (SN-VTA) to the ipsilateral and contralateral caudate-putamen was studied with double-labeling fluorescence techniques in the albino rat. By combining glyoxylic acid histofluorescence with retrograde fluorescence tracers, we were able to determine that 93% of the minor (1-2%) contralateral mesostriatal pathway is catecholaminergic. In addition, combined immunofluorescence and retrograde fluorescence tracer studies showed that 50% of the crossed mesostriatal pathway also arises from cholecystokinin-containing neurons. These results provide evidence for crossed catecholamine- and peptide-containing pathways in the mesostriatal system which is part of the 'prefrontal system' that links the prefrontal cortex through the caudate-putamen, with the thalamus and tectum of each hemisphere.
D000818:Animals; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000502:physiology
D002766:Cholecystokinin; D004298:Dopamine