The pattern of termination of ventral tegmental afferents into nucleus accumbens: an anterograde HRP analysis.

The input pattern from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens was examined using the anterograde transport of HRP. Following an injection of HRP into the VTA, marked heterogeneity was seen in accumbens especially in caudal regions. Here, the terminals were restricted for most part in the dorsal portions of accumbens. In rostral accumbens, the pattern was more uniform across accumbens. Glyoxylic acid induced histofluorescence supported these findings. The present results demonstrate considerable complexity in the rostral-caudal termination pattern of A10 afferent within the nucleus accumbens.