Zinc containing projections to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

A retrograde tracing method that selectively labels the perikarya of zinc-containing neurons was used to identify the neurons that supply zinc-containing fibers to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the rat. In agreement with prior lesion studies, retrograde tracing indicates that neurons in amygdalar and periamygdalar regions are the major sources of the zinc-containing innervation of the bed nucleus complex. Zinc-containing neurons in the presubiculum and prosubiculum were also retrogradely labeled from the BNST, whereas cells of the subiculum proper did not label. Light and occasional retrograde labeling of some CA1 and CA2 neurons and limbic cortical neurons was also observed, but the possibility of transport from regions bordering BNST injections (septum, caudate-putamen) could not be excluded in the latter cases.