Orthodromic and antidromic responses of nucleus accumbens neurons to stimulation of amygdala and substantia nigra in cats.

Response of nucleus accumbens neurons to stimulation of the amygdala and the substantia nigra were investigated extracellularly in anesthetized cats. They were excited by stimulation of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus with latencies of 9.0-20.0 ms (mean 12.8 ms). About 70% of them were activated antidromically with latencies of 5.5-33.0 ms (mean 18.8 ms) following stimulation of the substantia nigra pars reticulata. The nucleus accumbens thus relays signals from the amygdaloid complex to the substantia nigra, and may act to bridge the limbic system to the basal ganglia.