Influence of ascending noradrenergic fibers on the neurotensin-like immunoreactive perikarya and evidence of direct projection of ascending neurotensin-like immunoreactive fibers in the rat central nucleus of the amygdala.
The influence of ascending noradrenergic neuronal input on the neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya located in the dorsal part of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) was examined using fluorescence histochemistry and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemistry. Unilateral hemitransection of the ascending noradrenergic pathway by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the caudal mesencephalon just rostral to the locus coeruleus caused a marked depletion of immunoreactivity in NT-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the CNA. Ascending noradrenergic neuronal input, therefore, is considered to facilitate production of NT-like immunoreactive substances in neuronal perikarya and to influence on the functional role of the amygdaloid complex. In addition, we obtained evidence of unilateral direct ascending projections of NT-like immunoreactive neurons into the CNA since the disappearance of NT-like immunoreactive processes occurred mainly in the ventral part of the CNA after surgical hemitransection of the ascending neuronal pathway that interrupts the ascending NT-like immunoreactive pathway arising from the neurons in the brain stem.
D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D009496:Neurotensin; D009638:Norepinephrine