Deniau J M, Menetrey A, Thierry A M
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Département de Neurochimie-Anatomie, Institut des Neurosciences U.A. 1199, Paris, France.
Neuroscience. 1994 Aug;61(3):533-45. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(94)90432-4.
The nucleus accumbens is a major component of the ventral striatum through which most of the limbic affiliated cortical areas gain access to the basal ganglia circuitry. In this study, the organization of the pathways linking the nucleus accumbens to the thalamus, via the substantia nigra pars reticulata, was examined in the rat using anatomical and electrophysiological methods. Use of anterograde and retrograde transport of wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase has established that the core of the nucleus accumbens innervates a dorsal region of the substantia nigra pars reticulata which projects to subfields of the mediodorsal and ventral medial thalamic nuclei. These subfields consist of the rostral pole of the mediodorsal nucleus with the exception of its central segment and a region of the ventral medial nucleus, medial to the mammillothalamic tract. Confirming the existence of a nucleus accumbens nigrothalamic link, we have observed that electrical or chemical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens induces an inhibition of the spontaneous discharges of the nigral cells which project to the mediodorsal and ventral medial thalamic nuclei. Finally, the cortical projections of the thalamic subfields involved in the nucleus accumbens nigrothalamic circuit were determined using the anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. These subfields innervate mainly the prelimbic and to a lesser degree the orbital areas of the prefrontal cortex. The present data show that the substantia nigra pars reticulata is a major link between the core of the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex and provide further evidence for the concept of a parallel architecture in the basal ganglia thalamocortical circuits of the ventral striatum.
伏隔核是腹侧纹状体的主要组成部分，大多数边缘附属皮质区域通过它与基底神经节回路相连。在本研究中，运用解剖学和电生理学方法，对大鼠中经由黑质网状部将伏隔核与丘脑相连的通路组织进行了研究。使用与辣根过氧化物酶结合的小麦胚凝集素的顺行和逆行运输方法已证实，伏隔核的核心支配黑质网状部的一个背侧区域，该区域投射到丘脑背内侧核和腹内侧核的亚区。这些亚区包括背内侧核的喙极（其中央段除外）以及腹内侧核中位于乳头丘脑束内侧的一个区域。为证实伏隔核 - 黑质 - 丘脑联系的存在，我们观察到对伏隔核进行电刺激或化学刺激会抑制投射到丘脑背内侧核和腹内侧核的黑质细胞的自发放电。最后，运用与辣根过氧化物酶结合的小麦胚凝集素的顺行和逆行轴突运输方法，确定了参与伏隔核 - 黑质 - 丘脑回路的丘脑亚区的皮质投射。这些亚区主要支配前额叶皮质的前边缘区，对眶区的支配程度较低。目前的数据表明，黑质网状部是伏隔核核心与前额叶皮质之间的主要连接，并为腹侧纹状体的基底神经节 - 丘脑 - 皮质回路中平行结构的概念提供了进一步的证据。
