Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, anteromedial area: Cerebral hemisphere integration of neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral aspects of energy balance

Abstract

The anteromedial area of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTam) is the relatively undifferentiated region of the anterior medial (anteromedial) group of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTamg), which also includes the more distinct dorsomedial, magnocellular, and ventral nuclei. The overall pattern of axonal projections from the rat BSTam was analyzed with the PHAL anterograde pathway tracing method. Brain areas receiving relatively moderate to strong inputs from the BSTam fall into five general categories: neuroendocrine system (regions containing pools of magnocellular oxytocin neurons, and parvicellular corticotropin-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, and dopamine neurons); central autonomic control network (central amygdalar nucleus, descending paraventricular nucleus, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray); hypothalamic visceromotor pattern generator network (5 of 6 known components); behavior control column (descending paraventricular nucleus and associated arcuate nucleus; ventral tegmental area and associated nucleus accumbens and substantia innominata); and behavioral state control (supramammillary and tuberomammillary nuclei). The BSTam projects lightly to thalamocortical feedback loops (via the medial-midline-intralaminar thalamus). Its pattern of axonal projections, combined with its pattern of neural inputs (the most varied of all BST cell groups), suggest that the BSTam is part of a striatopallidal differentiation involved in coordinating neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral or somatic responses associated with maintaining energy balance homeostasis.

Intrahypothalamic pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide regulates energy balance via site-specific actions on feeding and metabolism

“…However, other significant sources of PACAP innervation to the PVN were found in the BNST, LPB, and sparse dual-labeling in the MeA. Although PACAP-containing cells from the LPB and MeA appear to project more extensively to the VMN, the BNST is well characterized to be a critical regulator of stress and anxiety with known inputs to the PVN and could have a potential role in PACAP-mediated hypophagia during times of stress (11,22,23).…”

Nuclei-and condition-specific responses to pain in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

“…The projection pattern of the AM aspect suggests that it contributes in coordinating neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioural or somatic responses associated with maintaining energy balance (Dong and Swanson, 2006a). Similarly, the FU projects along approximately 4 distinct pathways that terminate in the central amygdala, hypothalamus (PVH), midbrain (ventral tegmental area) and lower brainstem (lateral periaque-ducal gray, raphe) (Dong et al, 2001b).…”

Connections of the lateral hypothalamic area juxtadorsomedial region in the male rat

“…For further examples of this basic pattern of organization, one can turn to the lateral septal complex (LS) (Risold and Swanson, 1997a, b), and the bed nuclei of the stria terminals (BST) (e.g., Dong and Swanson, 2006a, b). For example, previous studies on the connections of BST antermodial area (am) (Dong and Swanson, 2006a) and BST dorsomedial nucleus (dm) (Dong and Swanson, 2006b) revealed the existence of output connections that were distinct in some respects yet different in others. On the basis of these connectional differences and a reexamination of the cytoarchitecture, a revision to a previously proposed boundary for the BSTdm was suggested (Dong and Swanson, 2006b).…”

“…An exhaustive review of the extensive connections of the midbrain reticular formation is beyond the scope of this study; nevertheless, some pertinent observations can be made. At least one previous tracing study appears to show a connection from the MRNm to the MRNp (Steininger et al, 1992), and several previous studies appear to show that the MRNm and/or MRNp connect to several interrelated regions, including the following: output to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (Geisler and Zahm, 2005;Jhou et al, 2009) and substantia nigra (SN) (Rye et al, 1987;Jhou et al, 2009); input from the medial half of the retrorubral area (RR; termed the mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus) (Jhou et al, 2009), VTA (Becksstead et al, 1979, SN (Beckstead et al, 1979), parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN; to MRNp) (Goto and Swanson, 2004), dorsal raphe (Vertes, 1991), lateral habenula (LH) (Herkenham and Nauta, 1979;Araki et al, 1988;Steininger et al, 1992;Jhou et al, 2009), and all subdivisions of the anterior BST (especially from the BST rhomboid and dorsomedial nuclei) (Dong and Swanson, 2003, 2004, 2006a; bidirectional connections with the parabrachial nucleus (PB) (Saper and Loewy, 1980;Moga et al, 1990;Steininger et al, 1992) and subthalamic nucleus (mostly MRNp) (Kita and Kita, 2011).…”

“…The above regions, each of which connect with the MRN, are indicated to have involvement in a very wide range of functions, including behavioral state control (dorsal raphe) (Nitz and Siegel, 1997;Millan, 2003;Waselus et al, 2011), parasympathetic control (PSTN) (Goto and Swanson, 2004;Ciriello et al, 2008), gustation and viscerosensation (PB, PSTN) (Spector, 1995;Goto and Swanson, 2004;Geerling and Loewy, 2008), thermogenesis (PB) (Ikemoto, 2007;Matsumoto and Hikosaka, 2007;Jhou et al, 2009;Ikemoto, 2010), and ingestive behavior and energy homeostasis (anterior BST) (Dong and Swanson, 2003, 2004, 2006a.…”