The Development of Central Catecholamine Neuron Systems: Some Implications for Disease

Abstract

Two major groups of catecholamine neuron systems are present in the mammalian brain. One of these, the dopamine systems, have cell bodies which are located principally in the rostral mesencephalon and in the periventricular region of the diencephalon. The axonal projections of these systems are topographically organized and terminate in two major zones. The largest projection arises from dopamine cell bodies of the ventral tegmental area and the adjacent substantia nigra. pars compacta. It terminates in the neostriatal nuclei, in basal forebrain areas such as the septum, amygdala, and olfactory nuclei and in restricted portions of the cerebral neocortex. The dopamine cell bodies of the diencephalic periventricular system have axonal projections terminating predominantly in the median eminence and in the neuro-intermediate lobe of the pituitary. These systems appear phylogenetically stable and have the same organization in man (Nobin and Björklund, 1973; Olson, Boreus and Seiger, 1973) as in lower mammals (Moore, Björklund and Stenevi, 1974).