Amygdalopetal projections in the cat. II. Subcortical afferent connections. A study with retrograde tracing techniques.

The subcortical afferent connections of the amygdaloid complex of the cat were studied by means of retrograde tracing of horseradish peroxidase and the fluorescent substances bisbenzimid and nuclear yellow. The results of the present study indicate that structures in the basal forebrain, hypothalamus, brainstem, and thalamus project in a topographical manner to the various amygdaloid nuclei. Within the basal forebrain "ventral pallidal" structures project to the lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei. The nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band and the medial part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis project predominantly to the medial and the medial central amygdaloid nuclei. Fibers from the substantia innominata distribute to nearly the entire expanse of the amygdaloid complex. The medial preoptic area and medial hypothalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular, ventromedial, arcuate, premammillary, and supramammillary nuclei, project most heavily to a region of the amygdala which includes the medial and the medial central nuclei. The caudal part of the lateral hypothalamic area sends strong projections to the medial central amygdaloid nucleus and more weakly projects to the basolateral nucleus. Brainstem neurons located in the cell groups A8 and A10, the dorsal raphe nucleus, the locus coeruleus, and the parabrachial nucleus project mainly to the medial central amygdaloid nucleus. Fibers originating in the medial part of the parabrachial nucleus in addition have a dense termination in the anterior amygdaloid area. Of the various midline nuclei of the thalamus which project to the amygdaloid complex, the paraventricular and ventral reuniens nuclei distribute fibers to the medial central and basolateral nuclei. The parataenial and the interventral nuclei project only to the medial central amygdaloid nucleus. Fibers from the interanteromedial nucleus exclusively reach the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Caudally in the ventral thalamus the subparafascicular and peripeduncular nuclei have been found to project to the medial, central, lateral, and cortical nuclei. In the posterior thalamus the medial part of the medial geniculate nucleus and the nucleus mediolateralis-suprageniculate complex give rise to fibers which reach the lateral central amygdaloid nucleus.