CONNECTIONS OF THE LIMBIC SYSTEM AND HYPOTHALAMUS

下丘脑和边缘系统被广泛认为提供了 动机和情绪的神经基础。 虽然 它的连接的组织，实际上是什么的定义 结构甚至应该包括在边缘系统，是很差的 理解和争议。 我们在这方面的长期目标是 目前已进入第二十个供资年头的主题是确定 用神经解剖学方法（结合通路追踪和 神经传递相关分子的组织化学） 地形组织的途径，连接各种 下丘脑的核团，神经支配海马的通路 下丘脑从端脑的内侧区域（如 杏仁核和海马体），以及从杏仁核和海马体下降的通路。 下丘脑到脑干和脊髓启动各种类 的本能。 目标导向的行为（例如， 摄食的， 生殖 防御性）。 具体目标： 1. 生成下丘脑外侧的高分辨率标准图 区域化，基于我们的计算机图形地图集， 个脑袋 和神经递质基因表达模式， cytoarchitecture，and previous先前connectional连接data数据. 2. 确定 联合轴突示踪/原位杂交实验 方法分析了各主要分支机构的投入产出关系， 下丘脑区

The hypothalamus and limbic system are widely thought to provide the neural substrates for motivation and emotion. although the organization of its connections, and indeed the definition of what structures should even be included within the limbic system, is poorly understood and controversial. The long range goal of our work on this topic, which is now in its twentieth year of funding, is to determine with neuroanatomical methods (combined pathway tracing and histochernistry for neurotransmission-related molecules) the precise topographical organization of pathways that interconnect the various nuclei of the hypothalamus, of pathways that innervate the hy hypothalamus from medial regions of the telencephalon (such as the amygdala and hippocampus), and of pathways that descend from the hypothalamus to brainstem and spinal cord to initiate various classes of instinctive. goal-oriented behavior (e.g.. ingestive, reproductive. and defensive). Specific Aims: 1. Generate a high resolution standard map of lateral hypothalamic regionalization, based on our computer graphics atlas of the rat brain. and on neurotransmitter gene expression patterns, cytoarchitecture, and previous connectional data. 2. Determine experimentally with combined axonal tracer/in situ hybridization methods the input/output relationships of each major lateral hypothalamic region.