Excitant amino acid projections from rat amygdala and thalamus to nucleus accumbens

Journal Article · Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · Brain Res. Bull.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(88)90136-0· OSTI ID:6924903

Robinson, T G; Beart, P M

High affinity uptake of D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate, (/sup 3/H)choline and (/sup 3/H)GABA was examined in synaptosomal-containing preparations of rat nucleus accumbens septi 7 to 10 days after unilateral or bilateral N-methyl-D-aspartate lesions confined to the parataenial nucleus of the thalamus or the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Uptake of both D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate and (/sup 3/H)choline was significantly reduced (11% and 14% less than control, respectively) by unilateral lesion of the thalamus, whereas (/sup 3/H)GABA uptake was unaffected. Bilateral thalamic lesions significantly reduced D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate uptake (11% less than control) into homogenates of the nucleus accumbens, whilst (/sup 3/H)GABA uptake was unaltered. D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate uptake was significantly reduced (26% less than control) following unilateral lesion of the amygdala, whereas both (/sup 3/H)GABA and (/sup 3/H)choline uptake were unaffected. Bilateral amygdaloid lesions significantly increased D-(/sup 3/H)aspartate uptake (39% greater than control), whilst uptake of (/sup 3/H)GABA was not affected. The results implicate glutamate and/or aspartate as putative neurotransmitters in afferent projections from the basolateral amygdala and the parataenial thalamus to the nucleus accumbens. Thalamic afferents to the nucleus accumbens may also utilize acetylcholine as their transmitter.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Melbourne, Heidelberg (Australia)
• OSTI ID: 6924903
• Journal Information: Brain Res. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Brain Res. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 20:4; ISSN BRBUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AFFINITY
ALCOHOLS
AMINES
AMINO ACIDS
AMINOBUTYRIC ACID
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ASPARTIC ACID
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMISTRY
CHOLINE
DRUGS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MAMMALS
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
RATS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
THALAMUS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES