Neurochemistry of the Anterior Thalamic Nuclei

This paper reviews the distribution of several bioactive substances and their possible physiological roles in the anterior thalamic nuclei of various species, with a special emphasis on the rat. The anterior thalamus is a part of extended hippocampal system and its significance for learning and memory processes is well known. Although our knowledge about a specific role of this brain structure has increased in recent years considerably, this is the first attempt to summarize neurochemical diversity of the anterior thalamus. The following groups of bioactive substances are reviewed: (1) classical neurotransmitters (gammaaminobutyric acid, glutamate and aspartate, acetylcholine, serotonin) and their receptors, (2) calcium-binding proteins (calretinin, calbindin, parvalbumin), and (3) others (cocaineand amphetamine regulated transcript, enkephalins, substance P). In order to extend our knowledge concerning exact functions of selected neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the studied brain structure, the future studies should concentrate on potential alterations in the neurochemical profile during various pathological states which affect the anterior thalamic nuclei.