Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Behavioral neuroanatomy of cholinergic innervation in the primate cerebral cortex

  • Chapter
Central Cholinergic Synaptic Transmission

Part of the book series: Experientia Supplementum ((EXS,volume 57))

Summary

This brief review summarizes the anatomy and behavioral affiliations of cortical cholinergic innervation. A depletion of this innervation has been reported in a number of human neurodegenerative conditions (including Alzheimer’s disease) and may contribute to the genesis of the associated behavioral disturbances.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arendt, T., Bigl, V., Tennstedt, A., and Arendt, A. (1985) Neuronal loss in different parts of the nucleus basalis is related to neuritic plaque formation in cortical target areas in Alzheimer’s disease. J. Neurosci. 14: 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Averback, P . (1981) Lesions of the nucleus ansae peduncularis in neuropsychiatric disease. Arch. Neurol. 38: 230–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloxam, C. A., Perry, E. K., Perry, R. H., and Candy, J. M. (1984) neuropathological and neurochemical correlate of Alzheimer-type and Parkinsonian dementia. In: Wurtman, R. J., Corkin, S. H., and Growdon, J. H. (eds), Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances in Basic Research and Therapies. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust, Cambridge, MA, pp. 39–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Candy, J. M., Perry, R. H., Thompson, J. E., Johnson, M., Oakley, A. E., and Edwardson, J. A. (1985) The current status of the cortical cholinergic system in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. J. Anat. 140: 309–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanova, M. F., Walker, L. C., Whitehouse, P. J. and Price D. L. (1985) Abnormalities of the nucleus basalis in Down’s Syndrome. Ann. Neurol. 18: 310–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLong, M. R. (1971) Activity of pallidal neurons during movement. J. Neurophysiol. 34: 414–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunnett, S. B., Whishaw, I. Q., Jones, G. H., and Bunch, S. T. (1987) Behavioral, biochemical and histochemical effects of different neurotoxic amino acids injected into nucleus basalis magnocellularis of rats. J. Neurosci. 20: 653–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, D. W., Kowall, N. W., and Martin, J. B. (1987) Subset of neurons characterized by the presence of NADPH-diophorase in human substantia innominata. J. comp. Neurol. 260: 233–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etienne, P., Robitaille, Y., Wood, P., Gauthier, S., Nair, N. P. V., and Quirion, R. (1986) Nucleus basalis neuronal loss, neuritic plaques and choline acetyltransferase activity in advanced Alzheimer’s disease. J. Neurosci. 19: 1279–1291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flicker, C., Dean, R. L., Watkins, D. L., Fisher, S. K., and Bartus, R. T. (1983) Behavioral and neurochemical effects following neurotoxic lesions of a major cholinergic input to the cerebral cortex in the rat. Pharmac. Biochem. Behav. 18: 973–981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaspar, P., Berger, B., Alvarex, C., Vigny, A., and Henry, J. P., (1985) Catecholaminergic innervation of the septal area in man: Immunocytochemical study using TH and DBH antibodies. J. comp. Neurol. 214: 12–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • German, D. C., Bruce, G., and Hersh, L. B. (1985) Immunohistochemical staining of cholinergic neurons in the human brain using a polyclonal antibody to human choline acetyltransferase. Neurosci. Lett. 61: 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorry, J. D. (1963) Studies on the comparative anatomy of the ganglion basale of Meynert. Acta anat. 55: 51–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, R. G. (1959) Studies in Schizophrenia. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hefti, F., and Weiner, W. J. (1986) Nerve growth factor and Alzheimer’s disease. Ann. Neurol. 20: 275–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iadecola, C., Mraovitch, S., Meeley, M. P., and Reis, D. J. (1983) Lesions of the basal forebrain in rat selectively impair vasodilation elicited from cerebellar fastigial nucleus. Brain Res. 279: 41–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, M. V., McKinney, M., and Coyle, J. T. (1979) Evidence for a cholinergic projection to neocortex from neurons in basal forbrain. Proc. natl Acad. Sci. 76: 5392– 5396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karczmar, A. G. (1975) Cholinergic influences on behavior. In: Waser, P. G. (ed.), Cholinergic Mechanisms. Raven Press, New York, pp. 501–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krnjevic, K . (1981) Acetylcholine as a modulator of amino-acid-mediated synaptic transmission. In: The Role of Peptides and Amino Acids as Neurotransmitters. A. Liss, New York, pp. 124–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, D. A., and Prince, D. A. (1985) Two types of muscarinic responses to acetylcholine in mammalian cortical neurons. Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA 82: 6344–6348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M. (1985) Patterns in behavioral neuroanatomy: association areas, the limbic system and hemispheric specialization. In: Mesulam, M.-M. (ed.), Principles of Behavioral Neurology. Contemporary Neurology Series. F. A. Davis Co., Philadelphia, pp. 1–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M. (1986) Alzheimer’s plaques and cortical cholinergic innervation. Neurosci. 17: 275–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M. (1987) Asymmetry of neural feedback in the organization of behavioral states. Science 237: 537–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., and Geula, C. (1988) Nucleus basalis (Ch4) and cortical cholinergic innervation in the human brain. J. comp. Neurol., in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., and Mufson, E. J. (1984) Neural inputs into the nucleus basalis of the substantia innominata (Ch4) in the rhesus monkey. Brain 107: 253–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Mufson, E. J., Levey, A. I., and Wainer, B. H. (1983a) Cholinergic innervation of cortex by the basal forebrain: Cytochemistry and cortical connections of the septal area, diagonal band nuclei, nucleus basalis (substantia innominata) and hypothalamus in the rhesus monkey. J. comp. Neurol. 214: 170–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Mufson, E. J., and Rogers, J. (1987) Age-related shrinkage of cortically projecting cholinergic neurons: A selective effect. Ann. Neurol. 22: 31–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Mufson, E. J., and Wainer, B. H. (1986a) Three-dimensional representation and cortical projection topography of the nucleus basalis (Ch4) in the macaque: Concurrent demonstration of choline acetyltransferase and retrograde transport with a stabilized tetramethylbenzidine method for HRP. Brain Res. 367: 301–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Mufson, E. J., Wainer, B. H., and Levey, A. I. (1983b) Central cholinergic pathways in the rat: An overview based on an alternative nomenclature (Chl–Ch6). Neuroscience 10: 1185–1201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Rosen, A. D., and Mufson, E. J. (1984) Regional variations in cortical cholinergic innervation: chemoarchitectonics of acetylcholinesterase-containing fibers in the macaque brain. Brain Res. 311: 245–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam, M.-M., Volicer, L., Marquis, J. K. Mufson, E. J., and Green, R. C. (1986b) systematic regional differences in the cholinergic innervation of the primate cerebral cortex: Distribution of enzyme activities and some behavioral implications. Ann. Neurol. 19: 144–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metherate, R., Tremblay, N., and Dykes, R. W. (1987) Acetylcholine permits long-term enhancement of neuronal responsiveness in cat primary somatosensory cortex. Neuroscience 22: 75–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishkin, M. (1982) A memory system in man and monkey. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 298: 85–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mufson, E. J., Kehr, A. D., Wainer, B. H., and Mesulam, M.-M. (1987) Cortical effects of neurotoxic damage to the nucleus basalis in rats: persistent loss of extrinsic cholinergic input and lack of transsynaptic effect upon the number of somatostatin-containing, cholinesterase-positive and cholinergic cortical neurons. Brain Res. 417: 385–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mufson, E. J., Martin, T. L., Mash, D. C., Wainer, B. H., and Mesulam, M.-M. (1986) Cholinergic projections from the parabigemenal nucleus (Ch8) to the superior colliculus in the mouse: A combined analysis of HRP transport and choline acetyltransferase immuno- histochemistry. Brain Res. 370: 144–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagai, T., McGeer, P. L., Peng, J. H., McGeer, E. G., and Dolman, C. E. (1983) Choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry in brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients and controls. Neurosci. Lett. 36: 195–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olds, J., and Milner, P. (1954) Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. J. comp. Physiol. Psychol. 47: 419–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orzi, F., Diana, G., Palombo, E., Lenzi, G. L., Bracco, L., and Fieschi, C. (1986) Effects of unilateral lesion of the nucleus basalis on local cerebral glucose utilization in the rat. In: Vezzadini, P., Facchini, A., and Labo, G. (eds), Neuroendocrine System and Aging. Eurage, pp. 259–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, R. C. A., Sofroniew, M. V., Cuello, A. C., Powell, T. P. S., Eckenstein, F., Esiri, M. M., and Wilcock G. K. (1984) Persistence of cholinergic neurons in the basal nucleus in a brain with senile demntia of the Alzheimer’s type demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining for choline acetyltransferase. Brain Res. 289: 375–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, E. K., Tomlinson, B. E., Blessed, G., Bergmann, K., Gibson, P. H., and Perry, R. H. (1978) Correlation of cholinergic abnormalities with senile plaques and mental test scores in senile dementia. Br. Med. J. 2: 1457–1459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramon-Moliner, E., and Nauta, W. J. H. (1966) The isodendritic core of the brain stem. J. comp. Neurol. 126: 311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridley, R. M., Murray, T. K., Johnson, J. A., and Baker, H. F. (1986) Learning impairment following lesion of the basal nucleus of Meynert in the marmoset: Modification by cholinergic drugs. Brain Res. 376: 108–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, J. D., Brogan, D., and Mirra, S. S. (1985) The nucleus basalis of Meynert in neurological disease: A quantitative morphological study. Ann. Neurol. 17: 163–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saper, C. B., and Chelimskyh, T. C. (1984) A cytoarchitectonic and histochemical study of nucleus basalis and associated cell groups in the normal human brain. Neuroscience 13: 1023–1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steward, D. J., MacFabe, D. F., and Vanderwolf, C. N. (1984) Cholinergic activation of the electrocorticogram: Role of the substantia innominata and effects of atropine and quinu clidinyl benzylate. Brain Res. 322: 219–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szymusiak, R., and McGinty, D. (1986) Sleep suppression following kainic acid-induced lesions of the basal forebrain. Exp. Neurol. 94: 598–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tagliavini, F., and Pilleri, G. (1985) Neuronal loss in the basal nucleus of Meynert in a patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Acta neuropath. 66: 127–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tago, H., Kimura, H., and Maeda, T. (1986) Visualization of detailed acetylcholinesterase fiber and neuron stainig in rat brain by a sensitive histochemical procedure. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 34: 1431–1438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vijayashankar, N., and Brody, H. (1979) A quantitative study of the pigmented neurons in the nuclei locus coeruleus and sub coeruleus in man as related to aging. J. Neuropath, exp. Neurol. 38: 490–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wainer, B. H., Levey, A. I., Mufson, E. J., and Mesulam, M.-M. (1984) Cholinergic systems in mammalian brain identified with antibodies against choline acetyltransferase. Neurochem. int. 6: 163–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolfe, N. J., and Butcher, L. L. (1981) Cholinergic neurons in the caudate-putamen complex proper are intrinsically organized: A combined Evans Blue and acetylcholinesterase analysis. Brain Res. 7: 487–507.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    M.-Marsel Mesulam

Authors
  1. M.-Marsel Mesulam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomisches Institut, J.W. Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 6000, Frankurt a.M 70, Federal Republic of Germany

    Michael Frotscher

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Am Klopferspitz 18A, 8033, Planegg-Martinsried, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ulrich Misgeld

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Birkhäuser Verlag

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mesulam, MM. (1989). Behavioral neuroanatomy of cholinergic innervation in the primate cerebral cortex. In: Frotscher, M., Misgeld, U. (eds) Central Cholinergic Synaptic Transmission. Experientia Supplementum, vol 57. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9138-7_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9138-7_1

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9922-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-9138-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation