The dopaminergic mesencephalic projections to the hippocampal formation in the rat. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 1. The dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons projecting to the hippocampal formation are distributed in three cell groups: A8 region in the retrorubral field, A9 region in the substantia nigra and A10 region in the ventral tegmental area. 2. Anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing techniques combined with immunohistochemical procedures indicate a topographical organization of mesencephalic dopaminergic projections towards the hippocampal formation. 3. Electrophysiological evidence suggest that dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons could have a regulatory role in suppressing hippocampal excitability. 4. The functional significance of the mesohippocampal dopaminergic system is largely unknown, although it was suggested that this projection could have a role in methamphetamine-produced hypermotility and in modulation of memory processes.

published proceedings

  • Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry

author list (cited authors)

  • Gasbarri, A., Sulli, A., & Packard, M. G.

citation count

  • 227

complete list of authors

  • Gasbarri, A||Sulli, A||Packard, MG

publication date

  • January 1997