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

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.