DEMONSTRATION OF A NEW DOPAMINE-CONTAINING CELL GROUP IN THE PRIMATE ROSTRAL TELENCEPHALON

The presence of dopaminergic neurons in the rostral forebrain has long been uncertain though the existence of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH)-cont aining cells has been known in the region. Using an antibody to dopami ne (DA), we demonstrated neurons immunoreactive (ir) to DA in the rost roventral striatum of the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata). The DA-ir cells were found at the ventral margin of the rostral part of the caud ate nucleus, at the ventral margin of the rostral part of the nucleus accumbens, in the olfactory tubercle, and along the lateral margin of the putamen. These cells were intensely stained, small in size, and fu siform or ovoid in shape, and had one or two short processes. DA-ir ce lls were far smaller in number than TH-ir ones. The primates may posse ss a unique dopaminergic system in the rostral telencephalon. Copyrigh t (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.