Nuclear organization of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and retrorubral field of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): A cytoarchitectonic and TH-immunohistochemistry study

• This is the extension of the approach on the midbrain dopaminergic system immunochemistry in the common marmoset.
• This study represents a standing point for functional studies of the dopaminergic system in a regional primate species.
• This study still serves as a base for the development of specific therapies on dopaminergic diseases.

It is widely known that the catecholamine group is formed by dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. Its synthesis is regulated by the enzyme called tyrosine hydroxylase. 3-hydroxytyramine/dopamine (DA) is a precursor of noradrenaline and adrenaline synthesis and acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The three main nuclei, being the retrorubral field (A8 group), the substantia nigra pars compacta (A9 group) and the ventral tegmental area (A10 group), are arranged in the die-mesencephalic portion and are involved in three complex circuitries – the mesostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways. These pathways are involved in behavioral manifestations, motricity, learning, reward and also in pathological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to perform a morphological analysis of the A8, A9 and A10 groups in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus – a neotropical primate), whose morphological and functional characteristics support its suitability for use in biomedical research. Coronal sections of the marmoset brain were submitted to Nissl staining and TH-immunohistochemistry. The morphology of the neurons made it possible to subdivide the A10 group into seven distinct regions: interfascicular nucleus, raphe rostral linear nucleus and raphe caudal linear nucleus in the middle line; paranigral and parainterfascicular nucleus in the middle zone; the rostral portion of the ventral tegmental area nucleus and parabrachial pigmented nucleus located in the dorsolateral portion of the mesencephalic tegmentum. The A9 group was divided into four regions: substantia nigra compacta dorsal and ventral tiers; substantia nigra compacta lateral and medial clusters. No subdivisions were made for the A8 group. These results reveal that A8, A9 and A10 are phylogenetically stable across species. As such, further studies concerning such divisions are necessary in order to evaluate the occurrence of subdivisions that express DA in other primate species, with the aim of characterizing its functional relevance.