Serotoninergic projections from the raphe nuclei to the preoptic area in sheep as revealed by immunohistochemistry and retrograde labeling

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Abstract
A retrograde tracer, fluorogold, was injected into the sheep preoptic area in order to demonstrate the origin of the serotoninergic fibers observed in this area. Within the raphe nuclei, retrogradely fluorogold‐labeled neurons were observed mainly in the median raphe nucleus (B8), groups B6/B5, and in the area lateral to the nucleus interpeduncularis (group S4), but not in the dorsal raphe nucleus. About 50% of these fluorogold‐containing neurons were immunostained with a specific antiserum raised against serotonin. Double‐labeled neurons (serotonin‐immunoreactive and fluorogold containing neurons) represented less than 20% of the whole number of serotoninergic neurons. We concluded that a few serotoninergic neurons in the median raphe nucleus and in groups B5/B6 and S4 project to the preoptic area. Moreover, these nuclei contained non‐serotoninergic neurons which project to the same area. These results give new information on the serotoninergic innervation of the preoptic area in the sheep.

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