Nucleus accumbens subregions: hodological and immunohistochemical study in the domestic chick (Gallus domesticus)

Abstract

The nucleus accumbens was identified in avian species some time ago. However, the precise localization and extent of this nucleus is still a matter of controversy. We have used immunolabeling against calbindin, neuropeptide Y, and DARPP-32 (dopamine- and adenosine-related phosphoprotein, 32 kDa) for the selective marking of putative accumbens subdivisions and have followed the anterograde transport of biotinylated dextran amine injected to the nucleus tractus solitarii region of 7-day-old domestic chicks. The nucleus accumbens extending between rostrocaudal atlas coordinates A 10.6 and A 8.8 can be subdivided into the core and shell, the core corresponding to the ventromedial and juxtaventricular medial striatum laterodorsal to the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and the shell representing an arched region situated ventrally and ventrolaterally to the core. Immunoreactivity to both calbindin and neuropeptide Y is more intense in the shell than in the core division. DARPP-32 immunolabeling does not differ in the two divisions but is markedly weaker in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, enabling the separation of this nucleus from the surrounding accumbens subdivisions. Fibers from the nucleus solitarius predominantly terminate in the shell division, similar to the situation described in mammals. Whereas the suggested core lies entirely within the boundary of the medial striatum, the shell seems partially to overlap the ventral pallidum. We have been unable to subdivide the remaining part of accumbens lying rostral to A 10.6 into a putative shell and core by the methods employed in the present study. This region probably corresponds to the rostral pole of the nucleus accumbens.

Immunohistochemical Localization of DARPP-32 in the Brain of Two Lungfishes: Further Assessment of Its Relationship with the Dopaminergic System

“…Moreover, the staining pattern supports the conclusion that the DARPP-32 is present in dopaminoceptive neurons, i.e., neurons that receive a dopamine input, and that it is absent from the dopaminergic neurons themselves [Ouimet et al, 1984[Ouimet et al, , 1992Schalling et al, 1990]. In particular, the protein was primarily detected in the neostriatum [Ouimet et al, 1984[Ouimet et al, , 1992Gustafson and Greengard, 1990;Ouimet and Greengard, 1990;Anderson and Reiner, 1991;Barbas et al, 1993;Greengard et al, 1998;Wang et al, 2004;Ishikawa et al, 2007;Glausier et al, 2010], and a striatal prevalence of the protein has been also confirmed in birds [Absil et al, 2001;Schnabel et al, 1997;Durstewitz et al, 1998;Reiner et al, 1998;Roberts et al, 2002;Bálint et al, 2004;Reiner et al, 2004;Metzger et al, 2006;Bálint and Csillag, 2007;Csillag et al, 2008]. In addition, studies in reptiles confirmed a pattern of distribution largely comparable among all amniotes [Smeets et al, 2001[Smeets et al, , 2003Moreno et al, 2010].…”

“…References: teleost: Robra and Thirumalai [2016]; lungfishes: González and Northcutt [2009]; present results; amphibians: López et al [2010]; O'Connell et al [2010]; reptiles: Smeets et al [2001Smeets et al [ , 2003; Moreno et al [2010]; birds: Schnabel et al [1997]; Durstewitz et al [1998]; Reiner et al [1998]; Absil et al [2001]; Roberts et al [2002]; Bálint et al [2004]; Reiner et al [2004]; Metzger et al [2006]; Bálint and Csillag [2007]; Csillag et al [2008]; mammals: Ouimet et al [1984Ouimet et al [ , 1992; Ouimet and Greengard [1990]; Gustafson and Greengard [1990]; Anderson and Reiner [1991]; Perez and Lewis [1992]; Barbas et al [1993]; Greengard et al [1998]; Wang et al [2004]; Ishikawa et al [2007]; Glausier et al [2010]; Buesa et al [2016]. …”

Behavioural and pharmacological effects of fluvoxamine on decision-making in food patches and the inter-temporal choices of domestic chicks

“…6). These locations extended over the core and shell regions of the nucleus accumbens [30,31]. In some chicks, the stained track was found in the lateral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the ventral pallidum sub-regions of the basal ganglia ventromedial to the mSt [32].…”

Neuro-economics in chicks: Foraging choices based on amount, delay and cost

“…Post-hoc analysis of effective lesion areas in reference to recent studies on the basal ganglia [5,6,12,32,38] shows that the areas included all of nucleus accumbens (Ac; both core and shell subdivisions are involved), dorsal part of bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BSTL) and medial part of medial striatum (MSt); other regions in the basal ganglia (intermediate to lateral part of MSt, lateral striatum, globus pallidus and ventral pallidum) were not involved. These areas fairly matched to the distribution of neurons that responded to rewarding cues [25].…”

“…The area named as accumbens nucleus (Acb) in the most recent atlas [35] corresponds to the "rostral LPO," which is a functionally distinct region since its lesion had no effects on impulsiveness [24]. In mammals, comparable effects were found also after lesions localized to the nucleus accumbens core [8]; it is thus reasonable to suggest that the Ac defined by Bálint and Csillag [6] corresponds better to the mammalian counterpart, rather than the Acb outlined in the atlas by Puelles et al [35].…”