Zincergic innervation of medial prefrontal cortex by basolateral projection neurons.
The basolateral amygdaloid complex is a site of origin for zinc-containing pathways in the brain; it is also known for its massive innervation of the medial prefrontal cortex. The presence, and potential neuromodulatory role, of zinc within this fundamental corticolimbic circuit has not been described. For this study, basolateral neurons innervating the medial prefrontal cortex were retrogradely labeled with FluoroGold, and zinc-containing neurons were identified using autometallography to visualize zinc selenium precipitates. Upon quantification of single-labeled and double-labeled cells, 35% of basolateral neurons projecting to medial prefrontal cortex were found to also contain zinc. We conclude that zinc may act as a neuromodulator for a substantial proportion of basolateral-medial prefrontal cortical innervation, therefore implicating zinc in corticolimbic function as well as pathology.
Cunningham
Miles G
MG
Laboratory for Neural Reconstruction, McLean Hospital, Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mcunningham@mclean.harvard.edu
Ames
Heather M
HM
Christensen
Mette-Kirstine
MK
Sorensen
Jens Christian
JC
D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D013266:Stilbamidines; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013266:Stilbamidines; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D015032:Zinc