Amygdala Basolateral nucleus

Connell K, Bolton N, Olsen D, Piomelli D, Hohmann AG (2006) Role of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in endocannabinoid-mediated stress-induced analgesia. Neurosci Lett 397(3) 180-A... 

The major distant afferents to the LC arrive from the brainstem (nucleus paragigantocellularis, PGI) and telencephalon (central nucleus of amygdala, CEA, and prefrontal cortex, PFC). The efferents of the LC innervate literally all areas of the central neural system (CNS). The majority of the fibers, however, project to the hippocampus, dentate gyrus (DG), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA) (Bouret and Sara 2005 Kandel et al., 2000 Kieman and Barr 1998). 

As for the amygdala, Di receptors are highly concentrated in the intercalated cells, with intermediate density of Di receptors in the magnocellular and parvicellular basolateral nucleus, whereas a low density is found in the central nucleus (Scibilia et al., 1992). 

Abbreviations Al = primary auditory area ac = anterior commissure Acc = accumbens nucleus AON = anterior olfactory nucleus BF = barrel field BLA = basolateral nucleus of the amygdala CAl = cornu ammonis 1 CA3 = cornu ammonis 3 cc = corpus callosum Cg = cingulate area CPu = caudate-putamen DCb = deep cerebellar nuclei DCo = dorsal cochlear nucleus DG = dentate gyrus DMV = dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve ECu = external cuneate nucleus EP = external plexiform layer ER = entorhinal cortex f = fornix Fa = facial nucleus fa = facial nerve fr = fasciculus retroflexus G1 = glomerular layer GPe = (external segment of the)... 

The cytoarchitecture of NLOT (Fig. 17C) has been studied extensively by McDonald (1983). It is considered an anterior part of the amygdala. NLOT can be subdivided into 3 layers on the basis of Nissl preparations a superficial plexiform layer I which contains a few small and medium-sized cells, a layer II which contains many tightly packed cells, and layer III located dorsal to layer II and containing fairly large, loosely packed cells. Most cells of NLOT are medium-sized pyramidal shaped with extensive spines on secondary and distal dendrites. According to McDonald (1983), layers I and II appear similar in connections to the piriform cortex while layer III seems to be a closely related subcortical area. Many neurons of layers II and fewer neurons of layer III project to the olfactory bulb (de Olmos et al. 1978 Shipley and Adamek, 1984). In addition to olfactory bulb projections, many axons of NLOT neurons make up the stria terminalis and cross to the contralateral piriform cortex, olfactory tubercle, lateral nucleus of the amygdala, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (de Olmos, 1972). Afferent connections to NLOT arise mainly from olfactory related areas and the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. 

BLAp basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, posterior part... 

Limbic system amygdala (central, anterior, medial, and basolateral nuclei), medial and lateral septal nuclei medial septal nucleus... 

Fig. 35.1 Simplified diagram of chemosensory circuit in amygdala. Vomeronasal input via accessory olfactory bulb (VNO/ AOB) is analyzed in anterior and posterior medial amygdala (MeA, MeP). MeP appears to be inhibited by intercalated nucleus (ICNc) for heterospecific and artificial stimuli. MOE/ MOB Main olfactory epithelium/Main olfactory bulb. ACN Anterior Cortical Nucleus. PC Piriform Cortex. BLA Basolateral amygdala. ICNr rostral part of medial intercalated nucleus. ICNc caudal part of ICN. MPOA Medial Preoptic Area. VMH Ventro-medial hypothalamus...

A medium-low density of D2 receptors was detected in the sensorymotor, visual, piriform and retrosplenial cortices, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, basolateral amygdala, thalamus, EP, SNr, anterior hypothalamic area and cerebellar lobules 9 and 10. 

The NAc receives brainstem information related to taste and visceral functions through direct input from the nucleus of the solitary tract to the medial shell as well as indirect input from the gustatory cortex to the lateral shell and core via parabrachial projections to the gustatory thalamus (Ricardo and Koh, 1978 Saper, 1982). Additonal taste information is relayed to the NAc from the basolateral amygdala, that integrates taste... 

Fig. 3. Schematic illustration of proposed dopamine pathways in the human forebrain originating from the dorsal tier (DT) and ventral tier (VT) mesencephalic cell populations. A, anterior thalamus BF, basal forebrain BL, basolateral amygdala Ce, central amygdala DS, dorsal striatum (includes the caudate nucleus and putamen) Ec, entorhinal cortex F, frontal cortex Hipp, hippocampus MD, mediodorsal thalamus O, occipital cortex P, parietal cortex T, temporal cortex VS, ventral striatum.

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