Propagation of the Pseudorabies virus particles to the amygdaloid complex after inoculation into rat insular cortex

The projections from the amygdaloid complex (AC) to the posterior insular cortex, were studied in 5 male adult rats by retrograde marking of neurons with Pseudorabies virus (PRV). After inoculation of PRV into the insular cortex, rats were sacrificed after 51, 57 or 72 hours. The serial sections of AC were examined by using immunohistochemistry, with an antibody against PRV. The goal of this study was to identify the nuclei of rat amygdaloid complex (AC) with presence of Pseudorabies virus (PRV), to estimate the density of PRV, and also to note the speed of PRV propagation from posterior insular cortex to AC. Clear distribution of PRV particles in amygdaloid nucleus was observed in the rat brain after 72 hours while in earlier sacrificed animals (51 and 57 hourrs) there was no positive reaction. By PRV retrograde tracing there was found that the main projections of AC to posterior insular cortex originate from lateral and basolateral nucleus which are known as important regions of sensory convergence of AC, and from the amygdalohyppocampal area, as well.