Cholinergic projections to the basolateral amygdala: a combined Evans Blue and acetylcholinesterase analysis

The origins and acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) content of neurons projecting to the AChE-rich basolateral amygdala were studied by infusing Evans Blue (EB), a retrogradely transported fluorescent label, into that neural region and, following microscopic evaluation of labelled somata, staining the same tissue sections for AChE according to the pharmacohistochemical regimen. The following basal forebrain areas contained cells labelled with EB: the lateral preoptic area, ventral pallidum, nuclei of the diagonal band, medial septal nucleus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and substantia innominata. The majority of the basal forebrain neurons projecting to the basolateral amygdala stained intensely for AChE, suggesting that they were cholinergic. In the brainstem, EB-labelled neurons staining intensely for AChE were found less frequently, but a few were observed in the nucleus tegmenti pendunculopontis, locus ceruleus, subcerulear region, and reticular formation. Cells accumulating EB after basolateral amygdala infusion but demonstrating no, weak, or moderate AChE activity were seen in the orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate, temporal, and insular cortices; the mediodorsal, paraventricular, and parataenial nuclei of the thalamus; the periventricular gray substance; the ventromedial mesencephalic tegmentum; the lateral and compact portions of the substantia nigra; the dorsal raphe; the dorsal tegmental nucleus; and the dorsal parabrachial nucleus. On the basis of staining intensity, intracellular organization of the AChE reaction product, and previous results in the literature, we conclude that the major cholinergic input to the basolateral amygdala derives from the basal forebrain.