Abstract
Section of the stria terminalis in the rat causes electron dense degeneration of 10–20% of the axon terminals in the preoptic area and in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus 2 days after operation. The neuropil of these two areas has been examined quantitatively with the electron microscope. In these areas the majority of the non-amygdaloid synapses are upon either the shafts or the spines of dendrites. In both areas there are more synapses upon dendritic shafts than on spines, but in the ventromedial nucleus there are significantly more spine synapses than in the preoptic area. In the preoptic area the stria terminalis fibres are distributed more or less equally on shafts and spines whereas in the ventromedial nucleus they terminate preferentially upon dendritic spines. This evidence that amygdaloid fibres terminate differently in the preoptic area and in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is discussed in relation to functional evidence that both these areas play important but different roles in the control of reproductive functions.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call