Mg. Laubach et Dj. Woodward, 5'-NUCLEOTIDASE IN THE RODENT VENTRAL STRIATUM - RELATION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEU-ENKEPHALIN, CELL CLUSTERS, AND INFRALIMBIC CORTICAL INNERVATION, Journal of comparative neurology, 360(1), 1995, pp. 49-58
The goal of this study was to determine the compartmental organization
of 5'-nucleotidase within the rodent ventral striatum and to compare
the distribution of 5'-nucleotidase with that of leu-enkephalin, cell
clusters, and infralimbic cortical innervation. In the core, 5'-nucleo
tidase is present in several contiguous patchy structures that are in
register with leu-enkephalin compartments. In the shell, 5'-nucleotida
se is concentrated in a longitudinal band along the septal border. Thi
s ''medial band'' extends from the rostral pole of the ventral striatu
m to the bed nucleus of stria terminalis. The ventral portion of the m
edial band is in register with a cluster of cells, located medial to t
he most dorsal island of Cajella. A second 5'-nucleotidase compartment
along the border of the core and shell is in register with a cell clu
ster and is most evident at caudal levels of the ventral striatum. The
innervation of the ventral striatum by the infralimbic cortex is dens
er in the shell than in the core. In the shell, fibers from the superf
icial layers of the infralimbic cortex tend to avoid the 5'-nucleotida
se-rich cell clusters and terminate in areas of moderate 5'-nucleotida
se density. By contrast, fibers from the deep layers terminate in the
ventral striatum without regard to the 5'-nucleotidase-rich cell clust
ers. Overall, the compartmental structure of 5'-nucleotidase in the ve
ntral striatum segregates projections from different layers of the inf
ralimbic cortex. Dense 5'-nucleotidase compartments are innervated by
neurons in the deep layers of the infralimbic cortex. The area of mode
rate 5'-nucleotidase density surrounding the 5'-nucleotidase compartme
nts is innervated by neurons in both the superficial and deep layers.
(C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.