Connectivity pattern suggests that incerto-hypothalamic area belongs to the medial hypothalamic system

Dopaminergic projections to the medial preoptic area of postpartum rats

Dopamine receptor activity in the rodent medial preoptic area (mPOA) is crucial for the display of maternal behaviors, as well as numerous other physiological and behavioral functions. However, the origin of dopaminergic input to the mPOA has not been identified through neuroanatomical tracing. To accomplish this, the retrograde tracer Fluorogold was iontophoretically applied to the mPOA of postpartum laboratory rats, and dual-label immunocytochemistry for Fluorogold and tyrosine hydroxylase later performed to identify dopaminergic cells of the forebrain and midbrain projecting to the mPOA. Results indicate that the number of dopaminergic cells projecting to the mPOA is moderate ( approximately 90 cells to one hemisphere), and that these cells have an unexpectedly wide distribution. Even so, more than half of the dual-labeled cells were found in either what has been considered extensions of the A10 dopamine group (particularly the ventrocaudal posterior hypothalamus and adjacent medial supramammillary nucleus), or in the A10 group of the ventral tegmental area. The rostral hypothalamus and surrounding region also contained numerous dual-labeled cells, with the greatest number found within the mPOA itself (including in the anteroventral preoptic area and preoptic periventricular nucleus). Notably, dual-labeled cells were rare in the zona incerta (A13), a site previously suggested to provide dopaminergic input to the mPOA. This study is the first to use anatomical tracing to detail the dopaminergic projections to the mPOA in the laboratory rat, and indicates that much of this projection originates more caudally than previously suggested.

Anatomy, function and regulation of neuropeptide EI (NEI)

This review is focused on the anatomy, role and behavior of neuropeptide-glutamic acid-isoleucine (NEI), providing a general report on the neuropeptide. In addition to hormone release, this peptide also takes part in the regulation of grooming behavior and locomotor activity. NEI is produced by cleavage of prepro-MCH that probably takes place at the Lys(129)-Arg(130) and Arg(145)-Arg(146) sites (the glycine residue on the C-terminus of NEI strongly suggests that this peptide is amidated). This same prohormone is also the precursor of MCH, widely studied in relation to food and water intake, and NGE, of which little is known. NEI and MCH are extensively colocalized throughout the central nervous system (CNS), and NEI is also present in peripheral tissues. The latter is also effective in stimulating luteinizing hormone (LH) release and, to a lesser extent, FSH from primary pituitary cell cultures. In addition to releasing LH from the medial eminence, NEI also acts directly on gonadotropes. Lastly, this neuropeptide also acts at the CNS level on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons.