Distribution of 'non-specific' cholinesterase-containing neurons in the dorsal thalamus of the rat.

This report describes the distribution of histochemically identified 'non-specific' cholinesterase (ChE)-containing neurons in the dorsal thalamus of the rat. Juvenile or young adult Long-Evans or Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed by formalin perfusion. Some animals received systemic injections of 1.5-2.0 mg/kg DFP 4-24 h prior to sacrifice. Separate series of 50 micron frozen sections were processed for cholinesterase histochemistry using acetylthiocholine, butyrylthiocholine, or propionylthiocholine as substrates. Adjacent sections processed with each of the 3 substrates allowed comparison of the distributions of neurons containing the histochemical reaction products. Neurons containing moderate to high concentrations of ChE reaction product were found in 3 distinct regions of the dorsal thalamus. First, neurons staining intensely for ChE were found in a cluster that corresponds to the thalamic reuniens nucleus. Second, a cluster of neurons staining intensely for ChE was found in a region that included the lateral part of the central lateral nucleus and extended laterally into the ventral-lateral part of the lateral dorsal nucleus. Third, moderate ChE staining was observed in the neurons of the anterior dorsal nucleus. Of these regions, only the anterior dorsal nucleus shows moderate to high levels of acetylcholinesterase. The function of ChE in normal brain function is unknown. It is particularly interesting, however, that the thalamic nuclei containing ChE-positive neurons send thalamocortical projections to the medial limbic cortex, including cingulate, retrosplenial and subicular cortices.