Afferent and efferent connections of the ventrolateral tegmental area in the rat (original) (raw)

Abstract

The present study examined the organization of afferent and efferent connections of the rat ventrolateral tegmental area (VLTg) by employing the retrograde and anterograde axonal transport of Fluorogold and _Phaseolus vulgaris_-leucoagglutinin, respectively. Our interest was focused on whether the anatomical connections of the VLTg would provide evidence as to the involvement of this reticular area in audiomotor behavior. Our retrograde experiments revealed that minor inputs to the VLTg arise in various telencephalic structures, including the cerebral cortex. Stronger projections originate in the lateral preoptic area, the zona incerta, the nucleus of the posterior commissure and some other thalamic areas, the lateral substantia nigra, the deep layers of the superior colliculus, the dorsal and lateral central gray, the deep mesencephalic nucleus, the paralemniscal zone, the intercollicular nucleus, the external cortex of the inferior colliculus, the oral and caudal pontine reticular nucleus, the deep cerebellar nuclei, the gigantocellular and lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei, the prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, the spinal trigeminal nuclei, and the intermediate layers of the spinal cord. Most importantly, we disclosed strong auditory afferents arising in the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei and in the cochlear root nucleus. The efferent projections of the VLTg were found to be less widespread. Telencephalic structures do not receive any input from the VLTg. Moderate projections were seen to diencephalic reticular areas, the zona incerta, the nucleus of the posterior commissure, and to various other thalamic areas. The major VLTg projections terminate in the deep layers of the superior colliculus, the deep mesencephalic nucleus, the intercollicular nucleus and external cortex of the inferior colliculus, the oral and caudal pontine reticular nucleus, the gigantocellular and lateral paragigantocellular reticular nuclei, and in the medial column of the facial nucleus. From our data, we conclude that the VLTg might play a role in sensorimotor behavior.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany Tel.: (+49) 7071/29–75356; Fax: (+49) 7071/29–2618; e-mail: horst.herbert@uni-tuebingen.de, , , , , , DE
    H. Herbert, Annette Klepper & Joachim Ostwald

Authors

  1. H. Herbert
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Annette Klepper
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Joachim Ostwald
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Accepted: 3 April 1997

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Herbert, H., Klepper, A. & Ostwald, J. Afferent and efferent connections of the ventrolateral tegmental area in the rat.Anat Embryol 196, 235–259 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004290050094

Download citation