Determination of neurotensin projections to the ventral tegmental area in mice

PPN (Pedunculopontine nucleus) MBA:1052 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Small numbers of Nts neurons labelled by the VTA tracer were detected in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.

Results 3.7; Fig. 11E

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

LHA (Lateral hypothalamic area) MBA:194 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The lateral hypothalamic area contained a sizeable Nts population between -1.30 and -1.70 bregma, many of them labelled from the VTA. This made the LHA a major Nts source to the VTA.

Results 3.6; Fig. 10B; Fig. 4

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

VMH (Ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus) MBA:693 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The ventromedial hypothalamus had sparse Nts neurons and did not supply many Nts afferents to the VTA. Whether any were double-labelled is not stated.

Fig. 10C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

SCm (Superior colliculus, motor related) MBA:294 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Double-labelled Nts neurons were seen in the superior colliculus after VTA tracer injection, though the figure legend describes them as few.

Results 3.7; Fig. 11B

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

CEAl (Central amygdalar nucleus, lateral part) MBA:551 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

A dense population of Nts neurons sits in the caudal lateral central amygdala. The authors judged these neurons unlikely to project to the VTA.

Fig. 6D

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

ACB (Nucleus accumbens) MBA:56 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The accumbens core held few double-labelled Nts neurons after VTA tracer injection, and the figure legend describes them as absent there, in contrast to the shell.

Results 3.3; Fig. 5B

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

STN (Subthalamic nucleus) MBA:470 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The subthalamic nucleus contained a dense Nts population. None of these neurons contained tracer from the VTA.

Results 3.6; Fig. 8C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

CEA neurotensin-expressing neurons nt-s91mvp79s2 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

A subset of central amygdala Nts neurons, mainly in the medial division between -1.30 and -0.80 bregma, took up tracer from the VTA. The paper calls this projection modest in density and minor compared with other sources.

Results 3.4; Fig. 6E; Table 2

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

ACB (Nucleus accumbens) MBA:56 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

After Fluoro-Gold injection into the VTA of NtsCre;GFP mice, many GFP-labelled Nts neurons in the accumbens shell were double-labelled, forming a continuous band across its rostrocaudal extent. The abstract describes this as dense input.

Results 3.3; Fig. 5B; Fig. 4; Table 2

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

ORBl (Orbital area, lateral part) MBA:723 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The lateral orbital cortex contained distinct Nts and tracer-labelled populations. None of its neurons were double-labelled after VTA injection.

Results 3.4; Fig. 6C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

APN (Anterior pretectal nucleus) MBA:215 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The anterior pretectal nucleus contained a few Nts neurons that took up tracer from the VTA.

Results 3.7; Fig. 11C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

MPO (Medial preoptic area) MBA:523 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Many Nts neurons in the caudal medial preoptic area were double-labelled after VTA injection, forming a dense cluster around -0.22 to +0.02 bregma. The preoptic area is among the main Nts sources to the VTA.

Results 3.6; Fig. 9B; Table 2

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

PAG (Periaqueductal gray) MBA:795 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

About 4 to 6 double-labelled Nts neurons per section were found across roughly 2.5 mm of the PAG, including its lateral and ventrolateral parts. This gives a substantial total number but only a modest density, described as a minor projection.

Results 3.7; Fig. 11D; Fig. 4; Table 2

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

BST (Bed nuclei of the stria terminalis) MBA:351 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

A few Nts neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis contained tracer from the VTA. Many other cells there carried only one of the two labels.

Results 3.5; Fig. 7C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

ZI (Zona incerta) MBA:797 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The zona incerta had few Nts neurons, but many of them were labelled by the VTA-injected tracer.

Results 3.6; Fig. 8B

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

PALv (Pallidum, ventral region) MBA:835 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

A few double-labelled Nts neurons were found in the ventral pallidum near its border with the lateral preoptic area after VTA tracer injection.

Results 3.5; Fig. 4

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

DR (Dorsal nucleus raphe) MBA:872 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Dorsal raphe Nts neurons were dense, but few contained VTA tracer, indicating a minimal projection. Double-labelled cells were most frequent caudally, around -4.8 to -5.0 bregma.

Results 3.7; Fig. 12B

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

PL (Prelimbic area) MBA:972 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

In the prefrontal cortex, Nts neurons and VTA-projecting tracer-labelled neurons lay in separate layers. No double-labelled cells were found.

Results 3.4; Fig. 6B

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

LDT (Laterodorsal tegmental nucleus) MBA:162 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Small numbers of double-labelled Nts neurons were found in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus after VTA tracer injection.

Results 3.7; Fig. 12D

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

PB (Parabrachial nucleus) MBA:867 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The parabrachial nucleus held a dense Nts population, but few of these neurons were tracer-labelled, so they provide minimal VTA input. The co-labelled cells lay where the Nts and tracer-labelled groups of the lateral PB overlap.

Results 3.7; Fig. 12C

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

LS (Lateral septal nucleus) MBA:242 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Nts neurons were plentiful in the lateral septum but tracer-labelled cells were few. At most about one double-labelled neuron per section was seen, and the region was left out of quantification.

Results 3.3; Fig. 5E

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

LPO (Lateral preoptic area) MBA:226 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

In the rostral preoptic region, numerous Nts neurons of the lateral preoptic area carried tracer from the VTA, between -0.10 and +0.40 bregma.

Results 3.6; Fig. 9C; Table 2

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

ARH (Arcuate hypothalamic nucleus) MBA:223 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

A few double-labelled Nts neurons were found in the arcuate nucleus after VTA tracer injection. The paper calls them minor compared with the LHA.

Results 3.6; Fig. 10D; Fig. 4

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.

CP (Caudoputamen) MBA:672 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

Some retrogradely labelled cells were seen in the ventral caudate/putamen. However, they showed little to no overlap with the sparse GFP-labelled Nts neurons there.

Results 3.3; Fig. 5D

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) disagrees. “The paper says only the vast majority of CPu FG+ cells lacked GFP, with little to no colocalization, so a result of absent overstates it.”

PVH (Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus) MBA:38 projects to VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 · Mouse

The paraventricular hypothalamus contained a few Nts neurons labelled from the VTA. It was a minor source compared with the LHA.

Results 3.6; Fig. 10E; Fig. 4

Made by an AI model reading the paper (claude-opus-5-5, extract@0.3.0); a second AI model (claude-opus-5-5) agrees.