A new method for the microdissection of the human hypothalamus, with mapping of cholinergic, GABA and catecholamine systems in twelve nuclei and areas

A new method was developed for the microdissection of the human hypothalamus, based on a local system of co-ordinates, using the fornix as an internal reference curve. Dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, CAT, GAD and GABA were assayed in twelve microdissected nuclei and areas, in nine human post-mortem cases. This neurochemical study was aimed to demonstrate the validity of the dissection method, and its potential usefulness for the controlled study of groups of abnormal human cases.