Differential projections of the infralimbic and prelimbic cortex in the rat

TLDR

Let's parse content. Background: sentence: "Abstract The medial prefrontal cortex has been associated with diverse functions including attentional processes, visceromotor activity, decision‐making, goal‐directed behavior, and working memory." Purpose+Mechanism: "The present report compares and contrasts projections from the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortices in the rat by using the anterograde anatomical tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris ‑leucoagglutinin." Findings: multiple sentences. Need to condense into one sentence summarizing main findings: IL and PL have distinct projection patterns; IL projects to many basal forebrain, amygdala, hypothalamus, brainstem structures; PL projects to insular cortex, claustrum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, thalamic nuclei, amygdala, raphe nuclei; IL projections suggest role in visceral/autonomic control; PL projections suggest role in limbic-cognitive functions. Let's craft: "IL projects densely to basal forebrain, amygdala, hypothalamus, and brainstem nuclei, whereas PL projects sparsely to these and instead targets insular cortex, claustrum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, thalamic nuclei, amygdala, and raphe nuclei, indicating IL’s involvement in visceral/autonomic regulation and PL’s in limbic‑cognitive processes." Other: "Synapse 51:32–58, 2004. Let's combine: "© 2003 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.; Synapse 51:32–58, 2004." That is a single sentence.

Abstract

Abstract The medial prefrontal cortex has been associated with diverse functions including attentional processes, visceromotor activity, decision‐making, goal‐directed behavior, and working memory. The present report compares and contrasts projections from the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortices in the rat by using the anterograde anatomical tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris ‐leucoagglutinin. With the exception of common projections to parts of the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex, olfactory forebrain, and midline thalamus, PL and IL distribute very differently throughout the brain. Main projection sites of IL are: 1) the lateral septum, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, medial and lateral preoptic nuclei, substantia innominata, and endopiriform nuclei of the basal forebrain; 2) the medial, basomedial, central, and cortical nuclei of amygdala; 3) the dorsomedial, lateral, perifornical, posterior, and supramammillary nuclei of hypothalamus; and 4) the parabrachial and solitary nuclei of the brainstem. By contrast, PL projects at best sparingly to each of these structures. Main projection sites of PL are: the agranular insular cortex, claustrum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, the paraventricular, mediodorsal, and reuniens nuclei of thalamus, the capsular part of the central nucleus and the basolateral nucleus of amygdala, and the dorsal and median raphe nuclei of the brainstem. As discussed herein, the pattern of IL projections is consistent with a role for IL in the control of visceral/autonomic activity homologous to the orbitomedial prefrontal cortex of primates, whereas those of PL are consistent with a role for PL in limbic‐cognitive functions homologous to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of primates. Synapse 51:32–58, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.