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Hodological characterization of the septum in anuran amphibians: II. Efferent connections
Author(s) -
Endepols Heike,
Roden Katja,
Walkowiak Wolfgang
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.20455
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biology , anterograde tracing , efferent , superior colliculus , septal nuclei , anatomy , olfactory system , sensory system , diencephalon , midbrain , amygdala , biotinylated dextran amine , nucleus accumbens , olfactory tubercle , anterior commissure , limbic system , retrograde tracing , nucleus , central nervous system , afferent
The efferent connections of the septum of the gray treefrog Hyla versicolor were studied by combining anterograde and retrograde tracing with biotin ethylendiamine (Neurobiotin). The lateral septal complex projects mainly to the medial pallium, limbic regions (e.g., amygdala and nucleus accumbens), and hypothalamic areas but also to sensory nuclei in the diencephalon and midbrain. The central septal complex strongly innervates the medial pallium, limbic, and hypothalamic areas but also specific sensory (including olfactory) regions. The medial septal complex sends major projections to all olfactory nuclei and a weaker projection to the hypothalamus. Our results indicate that all septal nuclei may modify the animal's internal state via efferents to limbic and hypothalamic areas. Via projections to the medial pallium, lateral and central septal complexes may be involved in learning processes as well. Because of their connections to specific sensory areas, all septal areas are in a position to influence sensory processing. Furthermore, our data suggest that both the postolfactory eminence and the bed nucleus of the pallial commissure are not part of the septal complex, rather, the postolfactory eminence seems to be comparable to the mammalian primary olfactory cortex, whereas the bed nucleus may be analogous to the mammalian subfornical organ. J. Comp. Neurol. 483:437–457, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.