id_687. MODELLING THE ANATOMY OF ROSTROMEDIAL TEGMENTAL NUCLEUS (RMTG)
Kaja Wróblewska1, Gniewosz Drwięga1,2, Martyna Gorkowska-Nosal2,3, Kamil Pradel4, Tomasz Błasiak2
1 Jagiellonian University, Department of Bioinformatics, 7 Gronostajowa St., Cracow, Poland
2 Jagiellonian University, Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, 9 Gronostajowa St., Cracow, Poland
3 Jagiellonian University, Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, 11 Łojasiewicza St., Cracow, Poland
4 University of Cologne, Institute for Systems Physiology, 39 Robert Koch St., Cologne, Germany
INTRODUCTION: Rostromedial Tegmental Nucleus (RMTg), or the tail of Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), is a midbrain structure considered one of the key regulators of the reward system, responsible for modulating the level of motivation and reward-driven behaviour. Despite its importance, the anatomical boundary of RMTg remains poorly defined and is not included in commonly used rat brain atlases.
AIM(S): This study aimed to determine the structure of the RMTg and define its boundaries on the Paxinos and Watson stereotaxic maps.
METHOD(S): The identification of the structure was carried out using immunohistochemical staining in 7 rats. The regulatory protein FOXP1 was utilised, as its expression was shown to be specific to the RMTg neurons in the midbrain.
RESULTS: Based on FOXP1-positive neuron distribution, a three-dimensional model was generated. Precise coordinates for the RMTg were extracted across multiple coronal planes. These spatial data allowed for the mapping of averaged RMTg boundaries onto corresponding atlas templates, resulting in a representative anatomical model.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings allow for more precise localisation of the RMTg, which can improve the methodological quality of future studies on the role of this structure in the regulation of the reward system.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Financial support: Preludium 2022/45/N/NZ/03171