Orthodromic activation of peptidergic cells in the medial amygdala.
Electrical recordings from vasopressin-containing cells in the medial amygdala were obtained. Electrical stimulation of one major afferent structure, the accessory olfactory bulb, invariably elicited single unit discharge in the peptidergic cells and set up a field potential indicating widespread excitation in the structure. Pheromonal stimuli, normally borne into the brain by the accessory olfactory bulb, were ineffective in activating the medial amygdala. These results in combination with preexisting research suggest that the accessory olfactory bulb is an important influence, but not the only influence, on the activity of the peptidergic cells.
Murphy
S
S
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, USA.
Beall
I
I
Renner
A
A
Smock
T
T
D000200:Action Potentials; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000378:metabolism
D010675:Pheromones; D014667:Vasopressins