Distribution of noradrenaline immunoreactivity in the forebrain and midbrain of the lizard Gekko gecko

The distribution of noradrenaline (NA) immunoreactivity in the forebrain and midbrain of the lizard Gekko gecko was studied by means of recently developed antibodies against NA. Noradrenaline-containing cell bodies are found in the hypothalamic periventricular organ and ependymal wall of the infundibular recess of the diencephalon. They are also present in the locus coeruleus and the nucleus of the solitary tract of the brainstem. Noradrenaline-immunoreactive (NAi) fibers and varicosities are widely, but not uniformly, distributed throughout the forebrain and midbrain. In the telencephalon, dense plexuses of NAi fibers are found in the bed nucleus of the medial forebrain bundle, the vertical limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, and the caudoventral part of the septal region. The diencephalon, the periventricular preoptic area, the supraoptic nucleus, and, in particular, the medial habenular nucleus are densely innervated by NAi fibers, whereas in the midbrain NAi plexuses are found in the ventral tegmental area, the substantia nigra and its dorsolateral extension (RA8), and in an area ventral to the nucleus interpeduncularis, pars ventralis. Moderately dense plexuses of NAi fibers are found in the small-celled medial cortex, the dorsal cortex, and the midbrain tectum. The remaining forebrain and midbrain areas are generally not or only sparsely innervated by NAi fibers. The distribution of NAi cell bodies and fibers resembles the pattern revealed with antibodies against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). A remarkable exception is that the cells in the hypothalamic periventricular organ and ependymal wall of the infundibular recess are immunonegative for DBH. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed. The present study on the distribution of NA immunoreactivity in the brain of Gekko gecko combined with the results of a previous report on the distribution of dopamine in the same species (Smeets et al., '86b) offer the opportunity to differentiate between the two catecholamines in the brain of this vertebrate.