Sagittal section of the rat brain showing the origin
and course of the dorsal and ventral noradrenergic bundles from the locus
ceruleus (cell group A6) (DNAB)
and cell groups (A1-5,7) in the rostral medulla oblongata (VNAB). Also
shown are the optimal parameters for making lesions of these projections
using intracerebral administration of the catecholamine neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine.
Terminal areas sustaining depletion are shaded. Typically greater than
90% depletion of neocortical and hippocampal NE is obtained following
lesions of the DNAB (e.g. see ref. 14, 47) and about 70% of hypothalamic
NE following depletion of the VNAB (see e.g. 14,78). Abbreviations:
ob=olfactory bulb; cc=cerebral cortex; hc=hippocampus. Figure provided
by B.J. Cole.