A sex difference in mouse dopaminergic projections from the midbrain to basolateral amygdala

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to LA (Lateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:131 · Mouse

VTA dopaminergic labelling was concentrated in the BLA with a distinct border against the adjacent lateral amygdala. The paper does not state whether the LA itself received any labelled axons.

Fig. 4C and accompanying text

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.

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to BLA (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus) MBA:295 · Mouse

Cre-dependent tdTomato and SypGFP AAVs injected into the VTA of TH-Cre mice labelled dopaminergic axons and boutons throughout the BLA. Labelling there was intermediate, below the nucleus accumbens and above the prefrontal cortex. Within the amygdala the labelling was concentrated in the BLA, and bouton density per labelled VTA cell was about twice as high in males as in females.

Fig. 1B, Fig. 2C-D, Figs. 3-6

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to Isocortex MBA:315 · Mouse

VTA dopaminergic tdTomato-labelled axons were present in the prefrontal cortex and co-labelled with TH immunostaining. Labelling there was sparse and significantly lower than in BLA.

Fig. 1A, Fig. 2A, D

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 measured prefrontal cortex specifically, so mapping the target to the whole Isocortex names a broader region than the paper means.”

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to BMA (Basomedial amygdalar nucleus) MBA:319 · Mouse

VTA dopaminergic labelling formed a distinct border at the edge of the BLA where it meets the basomedial amygdala. Any labelling within the BMA itself is not described.

Fig. 4C and accompanying text

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.

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to BLAp (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus, posterior part) MBA:311 · Mouse

Axon labelling from VTA dopaminergic neurons followed the cytoarchitectural boundary of the BLA. This included its posterior part as defined in the Allen atlas.

Fig. 4C

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.

VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to BLAa (Basolateral amygdalar nucleus, anterior part) MBA:303 · Mouse

Axon labelling from VTA dopaminergic neurons followed the cytoarchitectural boundary of the BLA. This included its anterior part as defined in the Allen atlas.

Fig. 4C

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.

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

After Cre-dependent tdTomato injection into the VTA of TH-Cre mice, NAC showed the highest labelling of the forebrain targets examined. It was too dense to segment single axons, and its fluorescence intensity was significantly higher than in BLA or PFC.

Fig. 1C, Fig. 2B, D

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VTA (Ventral tegmental area) MBA:749 projects to CEA (Central amygdalar nucleus) MBA:536 · Mouse

Dense dopaminergic axon labelling from the VTA injection was observed in the central amygdala. It was too dense for axonal segmentation, as in NAC.

Results, sex difference section (Fig. 4C text)

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.