Projections of the central medial nucleus of the thalamus in the rat: Node in cortical, striatal and limbic forebrain circuitry

0385664 - ÚEM 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Vertes, R. P. - Hoover, W. B. - Rodríguez Arellano, Jose Julio
Projections of the central medial nucleus of the thalamus in the rat: Node in cortical, striatal and limbic forebrain circuitry.
Neuroscience. Roč. 219, 6 SEP (2012), s. 120-136. ISSN 0306-4522. E-ISSN 1873-7544
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA309/09/1696
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50390703
Keywords : medial prefrontal cortex * insular cortex * nucleus accumbens
Subject RIV: FH - Neurology
Impact factor: 3.122, year: 2012

The central medial nucleus (CM) of thalamus is a prominent cell group of the rostral intralaminar complex of the thalamus. No previous report in the rat has comprehensively described the projections of CM. Using the anterograde anatomical tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, we examined the efferent projections of CM, comparing projections from rostral (CMr) and caudal (CMc) regions of CM. We showed that the central medial nucleus distributes substantially to several cortical sites and to a limited number of subcortical structures. The primary CM targets were anterior and posterior regions of cortex, the claustrum, the caudate-putamen, the nucleus accumbens (ACC), the olfactory tubercle, and the amygdala. CM projections to limbic and sensorimotor structures of the rostral forebrain suggest that CM may serve to integrate affective, cognitive and sensorimotor functions for goal-directed behavior.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0215096