The distribution and origin of the calretinin-containing innervation of the nucleus accumbens of the rat

The nucleus accumbens of the rat consists of several subregions that can be distinguished on the basis of histochemical markers. For example, the calcium‐binding protein calbindin D28k is a useful marker of the core compartment of the nucleus accumbens. Calretinin, another calcium‐binding protein, is found in a dense fibre plexus in the accumbal shell and septal pole regions. The source of the accumbal calretinin innervation is not known. We examined the distribution of calretinin in the nucleus accumbens and used tract‐tracing and lesion methods to determine the source of this calretinin innervation. Intense calretinin immunoreactivity was present in the medial shell, but the density of calretinin axons diminished sharply in the ventrolateral shell. Regions of dense calretinin immunostaining and those areas with calbindin‐like immunoreactive cell bodies were generally segregated in the nucleus accumbens, although some overlap in the transition region between the core and shell was seen. Small clusters of calretinin‐immunoreactive fibres were seen in the core, where they were restricted to calbindin‐negative patches. Injections of the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine into the paraventricular thalamic nucleus labelled fibres in calretinin‐rich regions of the accumbens. Conversely, injections of Fluoro‐gold into the accumbal shell retrogradely labelled numerous cells in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus that were calretinin‐immunoreactive. Electrolytic lesions of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus reduced calretinin levels in the shell by ≈ 80%. These data indicate that the calretinin innervation of the nucleus accumbens is derived primarily from the thalamic paraventricular nucleus, and marks accumbal territories that are largely complementary to those defined by calbindin.