Biomaterial Database

Evidence for a dopaminergic innervation of the subthalamic nucleus in the rat. 1997

O K Hassani, and C François, and J Yelnik, and J Féger

Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Universite R. Descartes, Paris, France.

The dopaminergic connection from the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the subthalamic nucleus in the rat was investigated using anterograde and retrograde tracers. Iontophoretic injection of the retrograde tracer fluoro-gold (FG) into the subthalamic nucleus resulted in a substantial number of labeled neurons in the SNc. Immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) confirmed the dopaminergic nature of these labeled neurons. Retrogradely labeled neurons were also found in the VTA. Injection of the anterograde tracer biocytin into the SNc produced biocytin-labeled terminals in the subthalamic nucleus hence providing clear evidence for a dopaminergic innervation of this nucleus. Quantitative analysis of labeled axons revealed that there were 15-38 terminal branches per axon, each branch being 50-150 microm long. The overall dimensions of one terminal arborization were 400 x 250 x 150 microm. There was no clear-cut topographical organization of the projection, but a slight mediolateral difference in the density of terminals. This direct dopaminergic projection is thought to interact with cortical and pallidal inputs in the subthalamic nucleus, which implies that the functions of the subthalamic nucleus are more complex than previously assumed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008239	Lysine	An essential amino acid. It is often added to animal feed.	Enisyl,L-Lysine,Lysine Acetate,Lysine Hydrochloride,Acetate, Lysine,L Lysine
D008297	Male		Males
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
D004298	Dopamine	One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action.	Hydroxytyramine,3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine,4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Dopamine Hydrochloride,Intropin,3,4 Dihydroxyphenethylamine,Hydrochloride, Dopamine
D005456	Fluorescent Dyes	Chemicals that emit light after excitation by light. The wave length of the emitted light is usually longer than that of the incident light. Fluorochromes are substances that cause fluorescence in other substances, i.e., dyes used to mark or label other compounds with fluorescent tags.	Flourescent Agent,Fluorescent Dye,Fluorescent Probe,Fluorescent Probes,Fluorochrome,Fluorochromes,Fluorogenic Substrates,Fluorescence Agents,Fluorescent Agents,Fluorogenic Substrate,Agents, Fluorescence,Agents, Fluorescent,Dyes, Fluorescent,Probes, Fluorescent,Substrates, Fluorogenic
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
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon
D013266	Stilbamidines	STILBENES with AMIDINES attached.
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