Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012 Jan;36(1):520-35. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.08.007. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
The primate amygdala is composed of multiple subnuclei that play distinct roles in amygdala function. While some nuclei have been areas of focused investigation, others remain virtually unknown. One of the more obscure regions of the amygdala is the paralaminar nucleus (PL). The PL in humans and non-human primates is relatively expanded compared to lower species. Long considered to be part of the basal nucleus, the PL has several interesting features that make it unique. These features include a dense concentration of small cells, high concentrations of receptors for corticotropin releasing hormone and benzodiazepines, and dense innervation of serotonergic fibers. More recently, high concentrations of immature-appearing cells have been noted in the primate PL, suggesting special mechanisms of neural plasticity. Following a brief overview of amygdala structure and function, this review will provide an introduction to the history, embryology, anatomical connectivity, immunohistochemical and cytoarchitectural properties of the PL. Our conclusion is that the PL is a unique subregion of the amygdala that may yield important clues about the normal growth and function of the amygdala, particularly in higher species.
灵长类动物的杏仁核由多个亚核组成，这些亚核在杏仁核功能中发挥着不同的作用。虽然一些核已经成为关注的焦点，但其他核仍然几乎不为人知。杏仁核中较为模糊的区域之一是旁室核（PL）。与较低物种相比，人类和非人类灵长类动物的 PL 相对较大。PL 长期以来被认为是基底核的一部分，它具有一些使其独一无二的有趣特征。这些特征包括小细胞的密集浓度、促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素和苯二氮䓬受体的高浓度，以及 5-羟色胺能纤维的密集神经支配。最近，在灵长类动物的 PL 中注意到了高浓度的具有不成熟外观的细胞，表明存在特殊的神经可塑性机制。在简要概述杏仁核的结构和功能后，本综述将介绍 PL 的历史、胚胎发生、解剖连接、免疫组织化学和细胞构筑特征。我们的结论是，PL 是杏仁核的一个独特亚区，它可能为杏仁核的正常生长和功能提供重要线索，特别是在较高物种中。
