Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Brain Structure and Function 5/2008

01-02-2008 | Original Article

The rat orbital and agranular insular prefrontal cortical areas: a cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic study

Authors: Henri J. J. M. Van De Werd, Harry B. M. Uylings

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 5/2008

Login to get access

Abstract

Cytoarchitectonic characterization of borders is necessary for stereological studies (e.g., total cell number estimation), in which particular cortical areas have to be defined. In this study, cytoarchitectonic characteristics are described and illustrated for the rat ventral or orbital frontal cortical areas, i.e., the lateral-, ventrolateral-, ventral- and medial-orbital areas; and for the lateral frontal cortical areas, i.e., the agranular insular and the dorsolateral orbital cortical area. Each cytoarchitectonic-defined boundary is corroborated by one or more of the immunocytochemical stainings for dopaminergic fibers, SMI-32 positive neurons, calbindin and parvalbumin positive neurons. Each immunocytochemical staining, however, shows a characteristic subset of the cytoarchitectonical borders. The dorsal agranular insular area (AId) and the dorsolateral orbital area (DLO) have been subdivided into a dorsal and a ventral part based upon differences between these parts in the Nissl and immunocytochemical stainings. The posterior part of VLO has a different structure and is, therefore, indicated as VLOp (VLO, posterior part).
Literature
go back to reference Cechetto DF, Saper CB (1987) Evidence for a viscerotopic sensory representation in the cortex and thalamus in the rat. J Comp Neurol 262:27–45PubMedCrossRef Cechetto DF, Saper CB (1987) Evidence for a viscerotopic sensory representation in the cortex and thalamus in the rat. J Comp Neurol 262:27–45PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Chudasama Y, Robbins TW (2003) Dissociable contributions of the orbitofrontal and infralimbic cortex to pavlovian autoshaping and discrimination reversal learning: further evidence for the functional heterogeneity of the rodent frontal cortex. J Neurosci 23:8771–8780PubMed Chudasama Y, Robbins TW (2003) Dissociable contributions of the orbitofrontal and infralimbic cortex to pavlovian autoshaping and discrimination reversal learning: further evidence for the functional heterogeneity of the rodent frontal cortex. J Neurosci 23:8771–8780PubMed
go back to reference De Brabander JM, van Eden CG, de Bruin JPC, Feenstra MGH (1992) Activation of mesocortical dopaminergic system in the rat in response to neonatal medial prefrontal cortex lesions. Concurrence with functional sparing. Brain Res 581:1–9PubMedCrossRef De Brabander JM, van Eden CG, de Bruin JPC, Feenstra MGH (1992) Activation of mesocortical dopaminergic system in the rat in response to neonatal medial prefrontal cortex lesions. Concurrence with functional sparing. Brain Res 581:1–9PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference De Bruin JPC, Sanchez-Santed F, Heinsbroek RP, Donker A, Postmes P (1994) A behavioural analysis of rats with damage to the medial prefrontal cortex using the Morris water maze: evidence for behavioural flexibility, but not for impaired spatial navigation. Brain Res 652:323–333PubMedCrossRef De Bruin JPC, Sanchez-Santed F, Heinsbroek RP, Donker A, Postmes P (1994) A behavioural analysis of rats with damage to the medial prefrontal cortex using the Morris water maze: evidence for behavioural flexibility, but not for impaired spatial navigation. Brain Res 652:323–333PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Feierstein CE, Quirk MC, Uchida N, Sosulsky DL, Mainen ZF (2006) Representation of spatial goals in rat orbitofrontal cortex. Neuron 51:495–507PubMedCrossRef Feierstein CE, Quirk MC, Uchida N, Sosulsky DL, Mainen ZF (2006) Representation of spatial goals in rat orbitofrontal cortex. Neuron 51:495–507PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Furuyashiki T, Gallagher M (2007) Neural encoding in the orbitofrontal cortex related to goal-directed behavior. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Epub ahead of print 14 August) Furuyashiki T, Gallagher M (2007) Neural encoding in the orbitofrontal cortex related to goal-directed behavior. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Epub ahead of print 14 August)
go back to reference Gabbott PLA, Warner TA, Jays PRL, Salway P, Busby SJ (2005) Prefrontal cortex in the rat: projections to subcortical autonomic, motor and limbic centers. J Comp Neurol 492:145–177PubMedCrossRef Gabbott PLA, Warner TA, Jays PRL, Salway P, Busby SJ (2005) Prefrontal cortex in the rat: projections to subcortical autonomic, motor and limbic centers. J Comp Neurol 492:145–177PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Geffard M, Buijs RM, Seguela P, Pool CW, Le Moal M (1984) First demonstration of highly specific and sensitive antibodies against dopamine. Brain Res 294:161–165PubMedCrossRef Geffard M, Buijs RM, Seguela P, Pool CW, Le Moal M (1984) First demonstration of highly specific and sensitive antibodies against dopamine. Brain Res 294:161–165PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Groenewegen HJ (1988) Organization of the afferent connections of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rat, related to the mediodorsal-prefrontal topography, Neuroscience 24:379–431PubMedCrossRef Groenewegen HJ (1988) Organization of the afferent connections of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rat, related to the mediodorsal-prefrontal topography, Neuroscience 24:379–431PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Groenewegen HJ, Berendse HW (1994) The specificity of the ‘nonspecific’ midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. Trends Neurosci 17:52–57PubMedCrossRef Groenewegen HJ, Berendse HW (1994) The specificity of the ‘nonspecific’ midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. Trends Neurosci 17:52–57PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Groenewegen HJ, Witter MP (2004) Thalamus. In: Paxinos G (ed) The rat nervous system, 3rd edn. Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego pp. 407–453 Groenewegen HJ, Witter MP (2004) Thalamus. In: Paxinos G (ed) The rat nervous system, 3rd edn. Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego pp. 407–453
go back to reference Groenewegen HJ, Schilman E, van de Werd HJJM, Galis-de Graaf Y, Joel D, Uylings HBM (2007) Organization of the projections of different orbitofrontal cortical areas to the striatum and thalamus in rats. Soc Neurosci Meeting, November 2007 Groenewegen HJ, Schilman E, van de Werd HJJM, Galis-de Graaf Y, Joel D, Uylings HBM (2007) Organization of the projections of different orbitofrontal cortical areas to the striatum and thalamus in rats. Soc Neurosci Meeting, November 2007
go back to reference Hof PR, Morrison JH (1995) Neurofilament protein defines regional patterns of cortical organization in the macaque monkey visual system: a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. J Comp Neurol 352:161–186PubMedCrossRef Hof PR, Morrison JH (1995) Neurofilament protein defines regional patterns of cortical organization in the macaque monkey visual system: a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis. J Comp Neurol 352:161–186PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Hoover WB, Vertes RP (2007) Anatomical analysis of afferent projections to the medial prefrontal cortex in the rat. Brain Struct Funct 212:149–179PubMedCrossRef Hoover WB, Vertes RP (2007) Anatomical analysis of afferent projections to the medial prefrontal cortex in the rat. Brain Struct Funct 212:149–179PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Jones BF, Groenewegen HJ, Witter MP (2005) Intrinsic connections of the cingulate cortex in the rat suggest the existence of multiple functionally segregated networks. Neuroscience 133:193–207PubMedCrossRef Jones BF, Groenewegen HJ, Witter MP (2005) Intrinsic connections of the cingulate cortex in the rat suggest the existence of multiple functionally segregated networks. Neuroscience 133:193–207PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Kalsbeek A, De Bruin JPC, Feenstra MGP, Uylings HBM (1990) Age-dependent effects of lesioning the mesocortical dopamine system upon prefrontal cortex morphometry and PFC-related behaviors. Prog Brain Res 85:257–282PubMed Kalsbeek A, De Bruin JPC, Feenstra MGP, Uylings HBM (1990) Age-dependent effects of lesioning the mesocortical dopamine system upon prefrontal cortex morphometry and PFC-related behaviors. Prog Brain Res 85:257–282PubMed
go back to reference Kamstra AW, Uylings HBM (1983) A Teflon-disc for processing loose, serial celloidin sections. Stain Technol 58:231-232PubMed Kamstra AW, Uylings HBM (1983) A Teflon-disc for processing loose, serial celloidin sections. Stain Technol 58:231-232PubMed
go back to reference Krettek JE, Price JL (1977) The cortical projections of the mediodorsal nucleus and adjacent thalamic nuclei in the rat. J Comp Neurol 171:157–191PubMedCrossRef Krettek JE, Price JL (1977) The cortical projections of the mediodorsal nucleus and adjacent thalamic nuclei in the rat. J Comp Neurol 171:157–191PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Markham JA, Morris JR, Juraska JM (2007) Neuron number decreases in the rat ventral, but not dorsal and medial prefrontal cortex between adolescence and adulthood Neuroscience 144:961–968PubMedCrossRef Markham JA, Morris JR, Juraska JM (2007) Neuron number decreases in the rat ventral, but not dorsal and medial prefrontal cortex between adolescence and adulthood Neuroscience 144:961–968PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference McAlonan K, Brown VJ (2003) Orbital prefrontal cortex mediates reversal learning and not attentional set shifting in the rat. Behav Brain Res 146:97–103PubMedCrossRef McAlonan K, Brown VJ (2003) Orbital prefrontal cortex mediates reversal learning and not attentional set shifting in the rat. Behav Brain Res 146:97–103PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Murray EA, O’Doherty JP, Schoenbaum G (2007) What we know and do not know about the functions of the orbitofrontal cortex after 20 years of cross-species studies. J Neurosci 27:8166–8169PubMedCrossRef Murray EA, O’Doherty JP, Schoenbaum G (2007) What we know and do not know about the functions of the orbitofrontal cortex after 20 years of cross-species studies. J Neurosci 27:8166–8169PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ostlund SB, Balleine BW (2007) Orbitofrontal cortex mediates outcome encoding in Pavlovian but not instrumental conditioning. J Neurosci 27:4819–4825PubMedCrossRef Ostlund SB, Balleine BW (2007) Orbitofrontal cortex mediates outcome encoding in Pavlovian but not instrumental conditioning. J Neurosci 27:4819–4825PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Paxinos G, Kus L, Ashwell KWS, Watson C (1999) Chemoarchitectonic atlas of the rat forebrain. Academic Press, San Diego Paxinos G, Kus L, Ashwell KWS, Watson C (1999) Chemoarchitectonic atlas of the rat forebrain. Academic Press, San Diego
go back to reference Ragozzino M (2007) The contribution of the medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum to behavioral flexibility. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Epub ahead of print 14 August) Ragozzino M (2007) The contribution of the medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum to behavioral flexibility. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Epub ahead of print 14 August)
go back to reference Rajkowska G, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ, Dubey P, Stockmeier CA, Krishnan KR (2005) Prominent reduction in pyramidal neurons density in the orbitofrontal cortex of elderly depressed patients. Biol Psychiatry 58:297–306PubMedCrossRef Rajkowska G, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ, Dubey P, Stockmeier CA, Krishnan KR (2005) Prominent reduction in pyramidal neurons density in the orbitofrontal cortex of elderly depressed patients. Biol Psychiatry 58:297–306PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ray JP, Price JL (1992) The organization of the thalamocortical connections of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rat, related to the ventral forebrain-prefrontal cortex topography. J Comp Neurol 323:167–197PubMedCrossRef Ray JP, Price JL (1992) The organization of the thalamocortical connections of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in the rat, related to the ventral forebrain-prefrontal cortex topography. J Comp Neurol 323:167–197PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Reep RL, Corwin JV, King V (1996) Neuronal connections of orbital cortex in rats: topography of cortical and thalamic afferents. Exp Brain Res 111:215–232PubMedCrossRef Reep RL, Corwin JV, King V (1996) Neuronal connections of orbital cortex in rats: topography of cortical and thalamic afferents. Exp Brain Res 111:215–232PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Roesch MR, Taylor AR, Schoenbaum G (2006) Encoding of time-discounted rewards in orbitofrontal cortex is independent of value representation. Neuron 51:509–520PubMedCrossRef Roesch MR, Taylor AR, Schoenbaum G (2006) Encoding of time-discounted rewards in orbitofrontal cortex is independent of value representation. Neuron 51:509–520PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Saper CB (2004) Central autonomic system. In: Paxinos G (ed) The rat nervous system. 3rd edn, Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, pp. 761–796 Saper CB (2004) Central autonomic system. In: Paxinos G (ed) The rat nervous system. 3rd edn, Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, pp. 761–796
go back to reference Uylings HBM, Groenewegen HJ, Kolb B (2003) Do rats have a prefrontal cortex? Behav Brain Res 146:3–17PubMedCrossRef Uylings HBM, Groenewegen HJ, Kolb B (2003) Do rats have a prefrontal cortex? Behav Brain Res 146:3–17PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Uylings HBM, Van Eden CG (1990) Qualitative and quantitative comparison of the prefrontal cortex in rat and primates, including humans, Prog Brain Res 85:31–62PubMedCrossRef Uylings HBM, Van Eden CG (1990) Qualitative and quantitative comparison of the prefrontal cortex in rat and primates, including humans, Prog Brain Res 85:31–62PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Uylings HBM, Malofeeva LI, Bogolepova IN, Jacobsen AM, Amunts K, Zilles K (2005) No postnatal doubling of number of neurons in human Broca’s area (BA 44 and 45)? A stereological study. Neuroscience 136:715–728PubMedCrossRef Uylings HBM, Malofeeva LI, Bogolepova IN, Jacobsen AM, Amunts K, Zilles K (2005) No postnatal doubling of number of neurons in human Broca’s area (BA 44 and 45)? A stereological study. Neuroscience 136:715–728PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Van der Plasse G, La Fors SSBM, Meerkerk DTJ, Joosten RNJMA, Uylings HBM, Feenstra MGP (2007) Medial prefrontal serotonin in the rat is involved in goal-directed behaviour when affect guides decision making. Psychopharmacology (Epub ahead of print August) Van der Plasse G, La Fors SSBM, Meerkerk DTJ, Joosten RNJMA, Uylings HBM, Feenstra MGP (2007) Medial prefrontal serotonin in the rat is involved in goal-directed behaviour when affect guides decision making. Psychopharmacology (Epub ahead of print August)
go back to reference Van Eden CG, Uylings HBM (1985) Cytoarchitectonic development of the prefrontal cortex in the rat. J Comp Neurol 241:253-267PubMedCrossRef Van Eden CG, Uylings HBM (1985) Cytoarchitectonic development of the prefrontal cortex in the rat. J Comp Neurol 241:253-267PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
The rat orbital and agranular insular prefrontal cortical areas: a cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic study
Authors
Henri J. J. M. Van De Werd
Harry B. M. Uylings
Publication date
01-02-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Brain Structure and Function / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-007-0164-y

Other articles of this Issue 5/2008

Brain Structure and Function 5/2008 Go to the issue