Biomaterial Database

Comparative morphology of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area in the monkey, cat and rat. 1983

L J Poirier, and M Giguère, and R Marchand

Four types of neurons were identified in the substantia nigra (SN) of the monkey, cat, and rat. The compacta-type neurons, characterized by unevenly distributed and intensely stained Nissl substance, display many shapes and sizes. The reticulata-type neurons, characterized by the presence of discrete Nissl bodies, are triangular or round. The intermediary-type neurons contain less intensely stained but more diffusely distributed Nissl substance. These triangular or fusiform neurons have thinner processes than the compacta- and reticulata-type cells. The globular-type neurons, characterized by a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, are much smaller than the three other types of SN neurons. The total number of neurons of the SN, which is much greater in the macaque (n=73,508) than in the cat (n=38,366) and the rat (n=22,532), is comprised mainly of the compacta type neurons (n=62,624; 22,323; and 9.925 in the three species, respectively). The reticulata-type neurons are more abundant in the cat, and the intermediary and globular types are more numerous in the rat. The compacta-type neurons have a particular distribution in each species. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains numerous globular-type neurons and a number of compacta-like or transitional type neurons which constitute the foyer pédiculaire of the central linear nucleus and the paranigral nucleus. The rostral linear nucleus is unique to the cat brain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008253	Macaca mulatta	A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans.	Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
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
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
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
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
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
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013378	Substantia Nigra	The black substance in the ventral midbrain or the nucleus of cells containing the black substance. These cells produce DOPAMINE, an important neurotransmitter in regulation of the sensorimotor system and mood. The dark colored MELANIN is a by-product of dopamine synthesis.	Nigra, Substantia,Nigras, Substantia,Substantia Nigras
D013681	Tegmentum Mesencephali	Portion of midbrain situated under the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI. The two ventrolateral cylindrical masses or peduncles are large nerve fiber bundles providing a tract of passage between the FOREBRAIN with the HINDBRAIN. Ventral MIDBRAIN also contains three colorful structures: the GRAY MATTER (PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY), the black substance (SUBSTANTIA NIGRA), and the RED NUCLEUS.	Accessory Oculomotor Nuclei,Annular Nucleus,Darkshevich's Nucleus,Interstitial Nucleus of Cajal,Mesencephalic Tegmentum,Mesencephalic Trigeminal Nucleus,Midbrain Tegmentum,Midbrain Trigeminal Nucleus,Nucleus Annularis,Nucleus Nervi Trochlearis,Nucleus Sagulum,Nucleus Tractus Mesencephalici Nervi Trigemini,Nucleus of Darkschewitsch,Peripeduncular Nucleus,Sagulum Nucleus,Tegmentum of Midbrain,Trochlear Nucleus,Ventral Tegmental Nucleus,Annulari, Nucleus,Annularis, Nucleus,Cajal Interstitial Nucleus,Darkschewitsch Nucleus,Darkshevich Nucleus,Darkshevichs Nucleus,Mesencephali, Tegmentum,Mesencephalic Tegmentums,Mesencephalus, Tegmentum,Midbrain Tegmentums,Nervi Trochleari, Nucleus,Nervi Trochlearis, Nucleus,Nuclei, Accessory Oculomotor,Nucleus Annulari,Nucleus Nervi Trochleari,Nucleus Sagulums,Nucleus, Annular,Nucleus, Darkshevich's,Nucleus, Mesencephalic Trigeminal,Nucleus, Midbrain Trigeminal,Nucleus, Peripeduncular,Nucleus, Sagulum,Nucleus, Trochlear,Nucleus, Ventral Tegmental,Oculomotor Nuclei, Accessory,Sagulum, Nucleus,Sagulums, Nucleus,Tegmental Nucleus, Ventral,Tegmentum Mesencephalus,Tegmentum, Mesencephalic,Tegmentum, Midbrain,Tegmentums, Mesencephalic,Tegmentums, Midbrain,Trigeminal Nucleus, Mesencephalic,Trigeminal Nucleus, Midbrain,Trochleari, Nucleus Nervi,Trochlearis, Nucleus Nervi