Nuclear organization of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and retrorubral field of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): A cytoarchitectonic and TH-immunohistochemistry study

Publication date: Available online 9 June 2016 Source:Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy Author(s): José R.L.P. Cavalcanti, André L.B. Pontes, Felipe P. Fiuza, Kayo D.A. Silva, Fausto P. Guzen, Eudes E.S. Lucena, Expedito S. Nascimento-Júnior, Judney C. Cavalcante, Miriam S.M.O. Costa, Rovena C.G.J. Engelberth, Jeferson S. Cavalcante It is widely known that the catecholamine group is formed by dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline, whose synthesis is regulated by the enzyme called tyrosine hydroxylase. Thus, 3-hydroxytyramine/dopamine (DA) is a precursor of the noradrenaline and adrenaline synthesis and acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The three main nuclei, named retrorubral field (A8 group), substantia nigra pars compacta (A9 group) and ventral tegmental area (A10 group), are arranged in the die-mesencephalic portion and are involved in three complexes circuitries – the mesostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways. Such pathways are involved in behavioral manifestations, motricity, learning, reward and also in pathological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Schizophrenia. Thus, the aim of this study is to perform a morphological analysis of the A8, A9 and A10 groups in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a neotropical primate, whose morphological and functional characteristics supports the suitability of its use in biomedical research. Coronal sections of the marmoset brain were submitted to Nissl ...
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research