Mesostriatal projections in BALB/c and CBA mice: a quantitative retrograde neuroanatomical tracing study

Inputs to the dorsal striatum of the mouse reflect the parallel circuit architecture of the forebrain

The basal ganglia play a critical role in the regulation of voluntary action in vertebrates. Our understanding of the function of the basal ganglia relies heavily upon anatomical information, but continued progress will require an understanding of the specific functional roles played by diverse cell types and their connectivity. An increasing number of mouse lines allow extensive identification, characterization, and manipulation of specified cell types in the basal ganglia. Despite the promise of genetically modified mice for elucidating the functional roles of diverse cell types, there is relatively little anatomical data obtained directly in the mouse. Here we have characterized the retrograde labeling obtained from a series of tracer injections throughout the dorsal striatum of adult mice. We found systematic variations in input along both the medial–lateral and anterior–posterior neuraxes in close agreement with canonical features of basal ganglia anatomy in the rat. In addition to the canonical features we have provided experimental support for the importance of non-canonical inputs to the striatum from the raphe nuclei and the amygdala. To look for organization at a finer scale we have analyzed the correlation structure of labeling intensity across our entire dataset. Using this analysis we found substantial local heterogeneity within the large-scale order. From this analysis we conclude that individual striatal sites receive varied combinations of cortical and thalamic input from multiple functional areas, consistent with some earlier studies in the rat that have suggested the presence of a combinatorial map.

The range and distribution of murine central nervous system cells infected with the gamma(1)34.5- mutant of herpes simplex virus 1

Wild-type herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) multiplies, spreads, and rapidly destroys cells of the murine central nervous system (CNS). In contrast, mutants lacking both copies of the gamma(1)34.5- gene have been shown to be virtually lacking in virulence even after direct inoculation of high-titered virus into the CNS of susceptible mice (J. Chou, E. R. Kern, R. J. Whitley, and B. Roizman, Science 250:1262-1266, 1990). To investigate the host range and distribution of infected cells in the CNS of mice, 4- to 5-week-old mice were inoculated stereotaxically into the caudate/putamen with 3 x 10(5) PFU of the gamma(1)34.5- virus R3616. Four-micrometer-thick sections of mouse brains removed on day 3, 5, or 7 after infection were reacted with a polyclonal antibody directed primarily to structural proteins of the virus and with antibodies specific for neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. This report shows the following: (i) most of the tissue damage caused by R3616 was at the site of injection, (ii) the virus spread by retrograde transport from the site of infection to neuronal cell nuclei at distant sites and to ependymal cells by cerebrospinal fluid, (iii) the virus infected neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells and hence did not discriminate among CNS cells, (iv) viral replication in some neurons could be deduced from the observation of infected astrocytes and oligodendrocytes at distant sites, and (v) infected cells were being efficiently cleared from the nervous system by day 7 after infection. We conclude that the gamma(1)34.5- attenuation phenotype is reflected in a gross reduction in the ability of the virus to replicate and spread from cell to cell and is not due to a restricted host range. The block in viral replication appears to be a late event in viral replication.

Circadian activity, nociceptive thresholds, nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic activity in the Naples High- and Low-Excitability rat lines

These experiments were designed to further characterize the differential phenotypic constellation of the Naples High- (NHE) and Naples Low-Excitability (NLE) lines. In order to determine possible differences between NHE and NLE rats in activity and circadian rhythms, besides reactivity to novelty (selection trait), adult male rats of both strains were tested during two 10-min exposures to a Làt-maze. They were then kept in activity cages continuously for 3 days. Moreover, nociceptive thresholds were measured with the hot-plate and the tail-flick test, to probe the possibility that these rats could be differentially sensitive to nociceptive stimuli. Further, the integrity of the nigro-striatal and mesolimbic system was investigated by measuring tyrosine-hydroxylase activity in the striatum and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels in the striatum as well as in the nucleus accumbens. In addition, TH activity was measured in the adrenals to probe the sympathetic section of the neurovegetative system. The results indicate that NHE and NLE rats differ by a factor of two in their phasic activity in a Làt-maze. In contrast, no differences in 24-h activity during the dark or light phase could be observed in the activity cages. However, NHE rats anticipated the light-on stimulus in the morning by reducing their activity 1 h earlier than NLE rats. Further, no difference could be found with the hot-plate and the tail-flick test. Finally, biochemical analyses revealed no difference in the NHE and NLE rats in the main terminal zone of mesolimbic system (n. accumbens) nor of nigrostriatal system (striatum) nor in the adrenal glands. In conclusion, since the only consistent difference between NHE and NLE rats appears to be reactivity to spatial novelty, an hippocampus-dependent behavioral trait (selection trait), independent of altered activity in the sympathetic system or dopaminergic activity in the major dopaminergic brain systems, the usefulness of these strains as genetic model to test current hypotheses of spatial processor device(s) in the mammalian brain is supported.

Organization of midbrain catecholamine-containing nuclei and their projections to the striatum in the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana

Presumptive catecholamine (CA) neurons in the opossum midbrain were identified by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. In the midline, small to moderate number of CA cells were present in the rostral third of the nucleus raphe dorsalis and throughout the nucleus linearis. Ventrolaterally, such cells were observed in the deep tegmental reticular formation, in all subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area, and in the three subdivisions of the substantia nigra. The CA cells in these areas conform to the dopamine cell groups, A8, A9, and A10 as described in the rat. In several areas there appeared to be no separation between the CA neurons belonging to cytoarchitecturally different nuclei. In order to determine which CA neurons gave rise to striatal projections, the neostriatum was injected with True Blue (TB), and sections through the midbrain were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and visualized by immunofluorescence. Neurons containing both TB and TH were observed in each of the CA cell groups mentioned above. The distribution of these cells confirmed organizational features that may be unique to the opossum's substantia nigra. In addition, different patterns of labeling resulted from caudate versus putamen injections, suggesting a rudimentary medial to lateral topography in the organization of nigrostriatal projections. Although our results suggest that the organization of midbrain CA neurons in the opossum is similar to that in placental mammals, it is clear that differences exist.