Brain structure caudate nucleus

Fig. 2. Sagittal section of rat brain immunolabeled (pre-embedding immunoperoxidase) for delta 1/2. CP = caudate putamen DC = dorsal cochlear n. DG = dentate gyrus (in hippocampus) FH = forelimb/hindlimb area of cortex Fr = frontal cortex Rt = reticulothalamic n. Note high levels of labeling in the dorsal cochlear nucleus and the cerebellar molecular layer (above DC), moderate labeling in the hippocampus and light to moderate labeling in various other brain structures. Modified from Mayat et al. (1995).

The highest brain concentrations of DA have been shown to be in the caudate nucleus. About two-thirds of the neurons in this structure respond to DA most are depressed by the transmitter, and a minority are excited. The caudate nucleus is a component of the extrapyramidal system that controls skeletal muscle. Of course, this fact relates to Parkinson s disease. Drugs that reduce dopaminergic functions by blocking DA receptors or in some other way interfere with DA may produce Parkinson-like symptoms as side effects, irrespective of what other activities they possess. This is what occurs with many antipsychotic drugs such as the phenothiazines. 

MRI studies of children with FAS also show reduced volume of other specific brain structures, the reduced volume not related to any reduction in brain size.35 The caudate nucleus is an example. Damage is evident in the caudate nucleus of a variety of children with FAS and lesser fetal alcohol effects.36... 

These experiments showed that the hypothalamic structures lining the thii d ventricle are the most sensitive area Among the other brain areas tested the SYS could be elicited from the caudate nucleus and the red nucleus (table 3) ... 

Metals are of fundamental importance to biological tissues (11-14) and maintenance of iron homeostasis is a basic biological requirement (15-18). By use of Peris stain for non-heme iron and other histochemical techniques pathologists have long been able to demonstrate a consistent pattern of iron deposition (19-23) in the normal human brain. This iron concentration is most prominent in specific deep brain nuclei of the basal ganglia and associated structures. These nuclei include the globus pallidus, the putamen, the caudate nucleus, the red nucleus, the substantia nigra and the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum. The iron concentration is low at birth and increases with age until a... 

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