The Projections of the Central Nucleus complex a Light Microscopic study

Abstract

This experiment was undertaken to determine and re examine the distribution of the descending projections from the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to the dorsal vagal complex (DVC). This time it was accomplished by the anterograde and retrograde transport of wheat Germ Agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGAHRP), which was injected into the CeA using micropipettes. In no instances were injections of WGA-HRP in the amygdala confined to the CeA. However it proved that from the effective injection uptake site only the CeA and bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) projects from the higher brain centers to the dorsal medulla. The majority of efferent terminals from the CeA were observed in and around the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), into the medial sub nucleus of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTSm) and commissural nucleus of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius tractus solitarius (NTScom). in addition retrogradely labelled neurons were observed in the NTSm along its rostrocaudal extent.