Distribution of neurons of origin of zinc-containing projections in the amygdala of the rat.

The present study describes the distribution of neurons of origin of zinc-containing pathways in the amygdaloid complex of the rat, using the selenium method for simultaneous retrograde labeling of all zinc-containing neurons. With this method, vesicular ionic zinc is precipitated intravitally with selenium compounds and transported retrogradely to the parent neurons, where it can be visualized by silver amplification. Neurons labeled retrogradely with silver-amplified precipitate were observed in all amygdaloid nuclei except for the lateral olfactory tract nucleus, the accessory olfactory tract nucleus and the central nucleus. Very few labeled cell bodies were seen in the anterior amygdaloid area and the medial nucleus. The amygdalo-hippocampal area and the amygdalo-piriform transition area both showed a substantial number of labeled somata throughout their rostrocaudal extent. In the anterior cortical nucleus, very few labeled cell bodies were found in the rostral pole, whereas they were abundant in the caudal quarter of the nucleus. In the posterolateral cortical nucleus, the number of labeled cell bodies increased gradually; there were none in the rostral pole, but most of the neurons in the caudal part were labeled. The posteromedial cortical nucleus contained a great number of labeled somata, but with some variation in the rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus. Considerable numbers of labeled neurons were observed throughout the lateral nucleus. In the basolateral nucleus, a small number of labeled cell bodies was present in the rostral half, but a gradual increase was observed in the caudal direction. Finally, in the basomedial nucleus, very few labeled cell bodies were present in the rostral two-thirds, whilst a considerable number was encountered in the caudal one-third. Possible functional implications of neuronal zinc are considered. The distribution of neurons of origin of zinc-containing projections has been compared with previously described intrinsic connections of the rat amygdala, and tracts that may possibly be zinc-containing are outlined and discussed. It is concluded that in all probability a substantial proportion of the intrinsic connectivity of the rat amygdaloid complex is zinc-containing.