Neurochemical identification of A13 dopaminergic neuronal projections from the medial zona incerta to the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca and the central nucleus of the amygdala

Studies utilizing fluorescent histochemical techniques first revealed that A13 dopaminergic (DA) perikarya located in medial zona incerta (MZI) project to various regions within the hypothalamus; accordingly, these DA neurons were designated the 'incertohypothalamic' DA neuronal system. More recently, it has been shown that the anterograde neuronal tract tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, after injection into MZI, is identified in nerve terminals outside of the hypothalamus; for example, in horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca (HDB) and central nucleus of the amygdala (cAMY). The purpose of the present study was to determine, using neurochemical techniques, if A13 DA neurons project to the HDB and cAMY. Concentrations of dopamine and one of its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were determined in HDB and cAMY following: (1) electrical stimulation of MZI, (2) electrolytic lesion or knife ablation of MZI, and (3) administration of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHBA) into MZI. For comparison, similar measurements were made in nucleus accumbens (N. Acc.), a terminal region of A10 DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Electrical stimulation of MZI increased DOPAC concentrations in HDB and cAMY, whereas electrolytic or ablative lesions of MZI decreased dopamine concentrations in both of these regions. By contrast, neither stimulation nor lesion of MZI had any effect on DOPAC or dopamine concentrations in N. Acc. Intracerebral injection of GHBA into MZI increased dopamine concentrations in MZI and HDB, but not in cAMY or N. Acc. Intracerebral administration of GHBA into VTA increased dopamine concentrations in HDB and N. Acc., but not in MZI or cAMY.