Abstract
The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a midline structure that encircles the mesencephalic aqueduct. While appearing homogeneous by some neuroanatomical criteria (Mantyh, 1982), recent studies in the rat of cell clustering and cytochrome oxidase activity have suggested the existence of four subdivisions in the PAG with different neuronal diameters and neuronal packing densities (Beitz, 1985; Conti et al., 1988). [Earlier studies described somewhat different subdivisions of the PAG in the cat (Hamilton, 1973)]. These regions also have differential connectivities with descending (hypothalamic, cortical and limbic) and ascending (medullary and spinal) afferents and reciprocal efferent connections, as well as populations of interneurons (e.g., Blomqvist and Craig; Veening et al.; Shipley et al.; Holstege, this volume). Consequently the PAG has a large number of established and putative transmitters present in its perikarya and afferent nerve terminals including the amino acids glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine (e.g., Belin et al., 1979; Clements et al., 1985), the amines acetylcholine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine (e.g., Clements et al., 1986) and various neuropeptides (e.g., Moss and Basbaum, 1983; Moss et al., 1983; Reichling et al., 1988; 1991).
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Gundlach, A.L. (1991). Regional Subdivisions in the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray of the Cat Revealed by In Vitro Receptor Autoradiography. In: Depaulis, A., Bandler, R. (eds) The Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray Matter. NATO ASI Series, vol 213. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3302-3_23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3302-3_23
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