Magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain project to neocortex, brain stem, and olfactory bulb. Review of some functional correlates

Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the neocortex of squirrel monkeys, rats, tree shrews and one opossum, in the brain stem of one squirrel monkey and rats, and in the olfactory bulb, the corpus vitreum or the vascular system of rats. Following the cortical, brain stem and bulbar injections labeled cells were found (predominantly ipsilaterally) in the magnocellular nuclei of the basal forebrain: nucleus of the diagonal band, the magnocellular preoptic nucleus and nucleus basalis. These nuclei may, therefore, be classified together hodologically as well as cytologically and histochemically. The number of labeled cells was proportional to the size of the injected region. It is uncertain whether the same cells project to all target regions. Large labeled cells were found scattered among pallidal and entopeduncular neurons in rats with cortical or brain stem injections. These neurons may be the equivalent to the nucleus basalis in other species.