Differential projections of habenular nuclei

Abstract

Abstract Lesions were made in the lateral and medial habenular nuclei of the cat. Subsequent degeneration of nerve fibers and terminalis was studied using Nauta‐Gygax silver technique. The medial and lateral habenular nuclei project differentially to the septum, olfactory, tubercle, thalamus, midbrain tegmentum and tectum. The diffuse part of the habenulopeduncular tract rises from the lateral habenular nucleus and the compact part rises from both nuclei. Degenerating terminals were seen caudally in the following nuclei: interpeduncular, central superior, dorsal raphae, ventral tegmental (from the medial habenular nucleus), dosral tegmental (from the lateral habenular nucleus), pretectal area, superior colliculus and inferior colliculus (from the lateral habenular nucleus). Rostral projections course in the medial part of the stria medullaris from the medial habenular nucleus and in the lateral part of the stria medullaris from the lateral habenular nucleus: Degenerating terminals were seen rostrally in the following nuclei: dorsomedial, anteroventral, anterodorsal, paraventricular, posterior medial septal (from the medial habenular nucleus) and preoptic area (from the lateral habenular nucleus). Projections occur from the medial habenular nucleus to the amygdala via the stria terminalis. The habenular nuclei are considered to be structures of the limbic system which are differentially related to midbrain, thalamic, amygdaloid, septal and preoptic structures via feedback circuits.