Gasbarri A, Packard M G, Campana E, Pacitti C
Department of Science and Biomedical Technology, School of Medicine, University of L'Aquila.
Brain Res Bull. 1994;33(4):445-52. doi: 10.1016/0361-9230(94)90288-7.
Employing anterograde tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L), and a triple labeling protocol using retrogradely transported fluorescent tracers, we examined the projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA-A10) to the hippocampal formation (HF) in the rat. Injections of PHA-L into VTA resulted in labeling in the ventral subiculum (stratum oriens and molecular layer) and in the adjacent CA1 field (stratum oriens, pyramidal, suprapyramidal and molecular layers) of HF. Additional labeling was observed in the stratum oriens of CA3 and in the hilus of fascia dentata. In the dorsal HF labeling was present in the subicular and CA1 field polymorphic layers. The distribution of VTA neurons projecting to the HF was also examined by injecting retrograde fluorescent tracers (Fluoro Gold, Fast Blue, and Nuclear Yellow) in several hippocampal areas. The most abundant VTA-HF projections originate from the upper and lower edges and the lower half of the VTA. These terminal fields in the HF match with the hippocampal areas projecting to the nucleus accumbens. The VTA, via projections to interconnected regions of the HF and nucleus accumbens, may modulate the hypothesized functional link between the limbic system and basal ganglia.
我们运用菜豆凝集素（PHA-L）进行顺行示踪，并采用逆行转运荧光示踪剂的三重标记方案，研究了大鼠腹侧被盖区（VTA-A10）至海马结构（HF）的投射。向VTA注射PHA-L后，在HF的腹侧下托（ Oriens层和分子层）以及相邻的CA1区（Oriens层、锥体细胞层、锥体上层和分子层）出现标记。在CA3的Oriens层和齿状回的门区也观察到额外的标记。在背侧HF，下托和CA1区的多形层存在标记。通过向几个海马区注射逆行荧光示踪剂（荧光金、快蓝和核黄），也研究了投射至HF的VTA神经元的分布。最丰富的VTA-HF投射起源于VTA的上边缘、下边缘和下半部分。HF中的这些终末场与投射至伏隔核的海马区相匹配。VTA通过投射至HF和伏隔核的相互连接区域，可能调节边缘系统与基底神经节之间的假定功能联系。
