Reciprocal neural connections between the central posterior/prepacemaker nucleus and nucleus G in the gymnotiform fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. 2005

Gunther K H Zupanc, and Sônia A L Corrêa
School of Engineering and Science, International University Bremen, Bremen, Germany. g.zupanc@iu-bremen.de

The central posterior nucleus of teleost fish is a cluster of neurons in the dorsal thalamus that plays an important role in controlling social behaviors. In the weakly electric gymnotiform fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus, this nucleus forms a larger complex together with the prepacemaker nucleus, hence called central posterior/prepacemaker nucleus (CP/PPn). This complex is crucially involved in neural control of transient modulations of the electric organ discharge, which occur both spontaneously and in the context of social interactions. This control function is intimately linked to its pattern of connectivity with other brain regions. By employing an in vitro neuronal tract-tracing technique, we have, in the present study, identified a novel reciprocal connection between the CP/PPn and a cell group situated in the region between the ventral thalamus and the inferior lobe. Despite the previous interpretation by other authors of this cell group as the glomerular nucleus, the lack of a projection of this nucleus to the hypothalamus, as also demonstrated in the present investigation, makes such a homology unlikely. We, therefore, interpret this nucleus as a brain structure of unknown homology in other teleosts and suggest 'nucleus G' to identify it.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D004557 Electric Organ In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672) Electric Organs,Organ, Electric,Organs, Electric
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001683 Biological Clocks The physiological mechanisms that govern the rhythmic occurrence of certain biochemical, physiological, and behavioral phenomena. Biological Oscillators,Oscillators, Endogenous,Pacemakers, Biological,Biologic Clock,Biologic Oscillator,Biological Pacemakers,Clock, Biologic,Clocks, Biological,Oscillator, Biologic,Oscillators, Biological,Pacemaker, Biologic,Pacemakers, Biologic,Biologic Clocks,Biologic Oscillators,Biologic Pacemaker,Biologic Pacemakers,Biological Clock,Biological Oscillator,Biological Pacemaker,Clock, Biological,Clocks, Biologic,Endogenous Oscillator,Endogenous Oscillators,Oscillator, Biological,Oscillator, Endogenous,Oscillators, Biologic,Pacemaker, Biological
D013787 Thalamic Nuclei Several groups of nuclei in the thalamus that serve as the major relay centers for sensory impulses in the brain. Nuclei, Thalamic
D023702 Gymnotiformes An order of neotropical electric fish found chiefly in the waters of South America. They continually emit weak electric discharges, which they use in object location and communication. A most popular species of research interest is the electric eel, ELECTROPHORUS electricus. Eigenmannia,Gymnotid,Gymnotidae,Eigenmannias,Gymnotids

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