Serotoninergic and noradrenergic projections to the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the monkey thalamus

Abstract

In the present study, serotoninergic and noradrenergic varicosities were identified in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the macaque monkey. Monoaminergic neurons projecting to the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus were identified by using retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase combined with immunocytochemical staining for serotonin or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. The midbrain nucleus raphe dorsalis was the major site of origin for neurons providing a serotoninergic projection to the ventral posterolateral nucleus. A few retrogradely labeled serotonin-containing neurons were also observed in the central superior and the raphe pontis nuclei. Noradrenergic cells with projections to the thalamus were primarily located in the nucleus locus coeruleus with some projection neurons in the nucleus subcoeruleus, and the A5 catecholamine cell group of the pons.