The serotoninergic system in the brain of the Japanese quail. An immunohistochemical study.

The presence and topographical localization of the serotoninergic system in the brain of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) have been studied by means of peroxidase-anti-peroxidase immunocytochemistry. The perimeter, diameter, area, and shape factor of immunoreactive cells have been recorded and analyzed morphometrically for intra- and interspecies comparison. The data reported here confirm and extend results previously obtained in the brain of other avian species. Serotonin-immunoreactive neurons of the quail are mainly located in the hypothalamic paraventricular organ and adjacent areas, and in the brainstem where they form three separate groups. The first of these groups consists of small-sized neurons located in the ventro-rostral mesencephalon. The second group is composed of medium-sized neurons located in the dorsal mesencephalo-pontine region. The third group is also formed by medium-sized neurons, and is located ventrally in the ponto-medullary region. In the quail brain, serotoninergic neurons are not restricted to nuclei located in the vicinity of the midsagittal plane, but show some lateralization, especially in the brainstem. The organization of the different groups of immunoreactive neurons based on this topographical distribution and morphometric analysis has been compared with descriptions of the serotoninergic system in other birds. Serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibers are widely distributed throughout the brain, but appear to be particularly abundant in regions involved in the control of reproductive activities, such as the septal region, the medial preoptic nucleus, the nucleus intercollicularis, and the external zone of the median eminence. The data reported here have allowed the drawing of a map of serotonin-immunoreactive structures.