Differential centrifugal afferents to the anterior and posterior accessoryolfactory bulb

THE centrifugal afferents to the anterior and posterior divisions of the ac cessory olfactory bulb (AOB) were investigated after iontophoretic injectio ns of dextranamines. Injections affecting the anterior and posterior or jus t the posterior division of the AOB gave rise to retrogradely labeled cells in the bed nuclei of the accessory olfactory tract and stria terminalis an d in the anterodorsal medial and posteromedial cortical (PMCo) amygdaloid n uclei. Injections restricted to the anterior division of the AOB yielded si milar results, although no cells were observed in the PMCo. These results d emonstrate differential centrifugal inputs to the anterior and posterior di visions of the AOB, probably to the granular layer, and provide further sup port for the hypothesis of a functionally segregated vomeronasal system. Ne uroReport 10:2011-2015 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.