Comparative analysis of the dendritic organization of principal neurons in the lateral and central nuclei of the rhesus macaque and rat amygdala

摘要: The amygdala plays a critical role in emotional processing and has been implicated the etiology of numerous psychiatric disorders. It is an evolutionarily ancient structure that enlarged primates relative to rodents. Certain nuclei, such as lateral nucleus, show relatively greater phylogenetic expansion than other nuclei. However, it unknown whether there also differential alteration neuronal features. To address this question, we examined dendritic arbors principal neurons, visualized by using Golgi method, central nuclei young adult rhesus macaques rats. Total length macaque rat. Dendritic trees are increased 250% nucleus monkey compared with rat (6,009 μm vs. 2,473 μm); tree 50% (1,786 1,232 μm). Somal volume 62% between species 48% nucleus. Spine density lower on dendrites (−22%) but equivalent Spines equally long macaque, spines longer about 20% macaque. alterations observed two suggest differences number spacing inputs into these undoubtedly influence function. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:689–716, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.