?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Ventral+tegmental+(A10)+system%3A+neurobiology.+1.+anatomy+and+connectivity&rft.creator=Oades%2C+R.D.&rft.creator=Halliday%2C+G.M.&rft.subject=Neuroanatomy&rft.subject=Neurology&rft.subject=Psychobiology&rft.description=Introduction%3A+%0AThe+VTA+contains+the+A+10+group+of+dopamine+(DA)+containing+neurons.+These+neurons+have+ben+grouped+into+nuclei+to+be+found+on+the+floor+of+the+midbrain+tegmentum+-+the+Nucleus+paranigralis+(Npn)%2C+Nucleus+interfasicularis+(Nif)%2C+Nucleus+parabrachialis+(Npbp)+and+the+Nucleus+linearis+(rostralis+and+caudalis)+*.+The+VTA+is+traversed+by+many+blood+vessels+and+nerve+fibers+**.+Close+to+its+poorly+defined+borders+are+found+DA+(A8%2C+A9%2C+A11)+and+5-HT+containing+neurons+(B8).%0A%0A*+Figures+2-4+show+electron+micrographs+and+drawings+%0A**+Figure+6+%2C+electronmicrographs+show+neurovascular+contacts+in+the+rat+and+cat+that+could+be+used+for%2C+say%2C+steroid+hormone+influence+on+neurotransmission.+%0A%0AEfferent+projections+of+the+VTA+can+be+divided+into+5+subsystems.+%0AThe+mesorhombencephalic+projects+to+other+monoaminergic+nucei%2C+the+cerebellum+and+a+fine+projection+descends+to+other+tegmental+nuclei+as+far+as+the+inferior+olive.+Fibers+to+the+spinal+cord+havenot+been+demonstrated.%0AThe+mesodiencephalic+path+projects+to+several+thalamic+and+hypothalamic+nuclei+andpossibly+the+median+eminence.+Functionally+important+examples+are+the+anterior+hypothalamic-preoptic+area%2C+Nucleus+medialis+dorsalis+and+reuniens+thalami.+These+two+subsystems+are+largely+non-dopaminergic.%0AA+minor+mesostriatal+projection+is+overshadowed+by+the+large+mesolimbic+projection+to+the+Nucleus+accumbens%2C+Tuberculum+olfactorium%2C+Septum+lateralis+and+Nucleus+interstitialis+stria+terminalis.+There+are+also+mesolimbic+connections+with+several+amygdaloid+nuclei+(especially+centralis+and+basolateralis)%2C+the+olfactory+nuclei+and+Entorhinal+cortex.+A+minor+projection+to+the+hippocampus+has+been+detected.%0AThe+mesocortical+pathway+projects+to+sensory+(e.g.+visual)+motor%2C+limbic+(e.g.+retrosplenial)+and+polysensory+association+coretices+(e.g.+prefrontal).+Prefrontal%2C+orbitofrontal+(insular)+and+cingulate+cortices+receive+the+most+marked+innervation+from+the+VTA.+A+more+widespread+presence+of+DA+in+other+cortices+of+rodents+becomes+progressively+more+evident+in+carnivores+and+primates.%0A%0AMost+but+not+all+projections+are+unilateral+(see+Table+VI+for+%25+crossed).+Some+neurons+project+to+more+than+one+area+in+mesodiencephalic%2C+limbic+and+cortical+systems.+The+majority+of+these+fibers+ascend+in+the+medial+forebrain+bundle+(MFB).+Most+areas+receiving+a+projection+from+the+VTA+(DA+or+non-DA)+project+back+to+the+VTA.+The+septo-hippocampal+complex+in+particiular+and+the+limbic+system+in+general+provide+quantitatively+much+less+feedback+than+other+areas.%0A%0AThe+role+of+the+VTA+as+a+mediator+of+dialogue+with+the+fronto+-+striatal+and+limbic+%2F+extrapyramidal+system+is+discussed+under+the+theme+of+%22+circuit+%22+systems+(Figure+11%2C+12+%26+13).%0AThe+large+convergence+of+afferents+to+certain+VTA+projection+areas+(e.g.%2C+prefrontal%2C+entorhinal+cortices%2C+lateral+septum%2C+central+amygdala%2C+habenula%2C+and+N.+accumbens)+is+discussed+under+the+theme+of+%22+convergence+%22+systems+(Figure+15+%26+16).%0A%0AAnimal+studies+clearly+demonstrate+that+the+VTA+in+general%2C+and+its+DA+projections+in+particular+are+strategically+organized+to+influence+integrative+neural+function+in+diverse+regions+of+the+meso-%2C+di-+and+telencephalon.%0A%0A&rft.publisher=Elsevier&rft.date=1987&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F1390%2F2%2Fvta-rev-87.pdf&rft.identifier=++Oades%2C+R.D.+and+Halliday%2C+G.M.++(1987)+Ventral+tegmental+(A10)+system%3A+neurobiology.+1.+anatomy+and+connectivity.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F1390%2F