A cytoarchitectonic and TH-immunohistochemistry characterization of the dopamine cell groups in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and retrorubral field in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris).
The 3-hydroxytyramine/dopamine is a monoamine of the catecholamine group and it is a precursor of the noradrenaline and adrenaline synthesis, in which the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase acts as a rate-limiting enzyme. The dopaminergic nuclei retrorubral field (A8 group), substantia nigra pars compacta (A9 group) and ventral tegmental area (A10 group) are involved in three complex circuitries named mesostriatal, mesocortical and mesolimbic, which are directly related to various behavioral manifestations such as motor control, reward signaling in behavioral learning, motivation and pathological manifestations of Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to describe the delimitation of A8, A9 and A10 groups and the morphology of their neurons in the brain of the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a typical Brazilian Northeast rodent belonging to the suborder Hystricomorpha, family Caviidae. Coronal and sagittal sections of the rock cavy brains were submitted to Nissl staining and TH immunohistochemistry. The organization of these dopaminergic nuclei in the rock cavy brain is very similar to that found in other animals of the Rodentia order, except for the presence of the tail of the substantia nigra, which is found only in the species under study. The results revealed that, apart some morphological variations, A8, A9 and A10 groups are phylogenetically stable brain structures.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, University of State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: rodolfolopes@uern.br.
José R L P
JR
Cavalcanti
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Joacil G
JG
Soares
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences and Health Center, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil.
Francisco G
FG
Oliveira
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, University of State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Fausto P
FP
Guzen
Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
André L B
AL
Pontes
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Twyla B
TB
Sousa
Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Jeferson S
JS
Cavalcante
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Expedito S
ES
Nascimento
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Judney C
JC
Cavalcante
Department of Morphology, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Miriam S M O
MS
Costa
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism*
D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine
Dopamine; Retrorubral field; Rock cavy; Substantia nigra; Tyrosine hydroxylase; Ventral tegmental area