A S T E R E O T A X I C A T L A S O F

THE GOLDEN HAMSTER BRAIN

(Select Text to View Atlas)
Atlas Text

Introduction
Index of Abbreviations
Appendix

Coronal Sections

Labeled Schematics
Unlabeled Schematics
Photo Micrographs

Sagittal Sections

Labeled Photos

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Lawrence P. Morin and Ruth I. Wood
 Copyright 2000 by Lawrence Morin and Ruth Wood

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many people and organizations contributed to the construction of this
atlas. Their support is gratefully acknowledged here. We thank Jane
Blanchard for superb tissue sectioning and histologic staining, Craig
Panner for editorial assistance, Charles River Laboratories for providing
hamsters used in this atlas, and Dr. Sarah W. Newman for encouraging
us to pursue this project. Support for this work was provided by grants
from Academic Press and from the National Institutes of Health:
NS22168 (to LPM), HD32669 and MH55034 (to RIW).
INTRODUCTION
Hamsters in neuroscience research.
Since the capture in 1930 of a single female and her pups from Aleppo,
Syria [Murphy, 1985], the golden or Syrian hamster has emerged as an
important animal model for neuroscience research. In many aspects of
physiology and behavior, hamsters provide a significant contrast to mice
and rats. The hamster is particularly valuable for studies of circadian
rhythms and vision, reproduction and aggression, and taste and smell. In
the past 20 years, the number of papers published using hamsters in
neuroscience has doubled, and hamsters are one of the top dozen animal
models in brain research today, according to the Medline database. As
their use in neuroscience research has expanded, knowledge of hamster
neuroanatomy has also increased.
Why a hamster brain atlas?
A stereotaxic brain atlas is an indispensable tool for neurobiology re-
search. Brain atlases serve several important functions. First, an atlas
provides stereotaxic coordinates for precise placement of chemicals,
lesions, and devices in the brains of experimental animals. Secondly, an
atlas is a pictorial synopsis of a large body of literature that has evalu-
ated both the structure and function of the brain. A good atlas represents
the consensus of many neuroscientists. Finally, an atlas provides a

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consistent anatomical definition and nomenclature for areas in the brain.
This reduces confusion in the scientific literature. The series of atlases
compiled by Paxinos and colleagues has had a major impact on stan-
dardization of the neuroanatomical nomenclature. Most laboratories
have at least one well-worn copy of a brain atlas for their particular
animal model. The most popular brain atlas [Paxinos and Watson, 1986]
for the most popular species in neuroscience research (rat) was cited
about 1400 times in 1996 alone [Science Citation Index].
The world of hamster neuroscience research has been empty of useful
stereotaxic atlases, either contemporary or dated. In contrast, investiga-
tors studying the rat have been blessed with an excellent series of brain
atlases, including those by de Groot [1959], Pellegrino [1979], Swanson
[1999], and Paxinos and Watson [1998]. The brain of the golden ham-
ster is fairly similar to that of the rat, and most neuroscientists who use
hamsters, including the two authors, have relied on rat brain atlases for
anatomical divisions and nomenclature. However, a rat atlas is not
adequate for hamster research. Rat stereotaxic coordinates are useless
for surgery in the hamster because the dimensions and architecture of the
hamster brain differ from that of the rat. As a result, hamster neurosci-
entists determine their own coordinates by trial and error. (A number of
hamster neuroscientists have contributed their own coordinates for
selected brain regions; see APPENDIX.) Moreover, the nuclear bound-
aries and nomenclature for brain regions in the rat do not necessarily
correspond to similar structures in the hamster.
The value of a quality hamster brain atlas is manifold. In addition to the
practical value of providing accurate 3-dimensional coordinates for
stereotaxic surgery, an atlas is a repository of information about brain
structure. As new information becomes available, atlases must be
revised to incorporate and reflect the newer data. One need only look at
the editions of the Paxinos rat atlas to see several regions of the brain in
which there have been changes in apparent structure across the evolution
of the atlas. Compare, for example, the pretectal region in the second
and third editions. The latter shows a new pretectal nucleus (MPT) and
a rearrangement such that the nucleus of the optic tract now overlies the
posterior pretectal nucleus (PPT). The changes in structure represent the
authors reinterpretation of the anatomy based on new data that has
emerged. In addition to changes within a particular atlas over time,
certain aspects of the available literature are interpreted differently by
different neuroscientists, leading to different identification of the same
brain structures. One example of this is a large region lateral to the
posterior commissure and medial to the anterior pretectal nucleus. This
is unidentified in the Paxinos and Watson atlas [1998], but is considered
to be part of the superior colliculus by Swanson [1999]. The Paxinos
and Watson atlas is conservative in this instance, electing to remain
neutral, rather than apply a name that they apparently consider unsub-
stantiated. Our data from hamsters suggests that this particular region
has features that warrant its inclusion as one of the pretectal nuclei. We
have called it the commissural pretectal area.
Another major reason for a hamster atlas concerns marketing. The
hamster has many merits as a laboratory rodent. Each of these can be
marketed for its own sake. For example, there is a long and substantial
history of hamster use for the study of visual system development and
regeneration [Schneider, 1970; Tiao and Blakemore, 1976; Finley et al,
1978; Rhoades and Chalupa, 1978; So et al, 1984; Botchkina and Morin,
1985b; Speh and Moore, 1993]. Visual system development continues
to draw investigators to the hamster because of the large amount of
scientific effort that has provided a solid foundation for further research
in this species. Unfortunately, this same logic often works contrary to
the use of the hamster as a preferred animal model. An example from
the field of circadian rhythm research demonstrates the point. The rat
has been the prevailing species for the study of rhythm anatomy, physi-
ology, and biochemistry [Klein et al, 1991]. In contrast, the hamster has
wonderfully clear and easy to measure circadian behavioral rhythms
[Pittendrigh and Daan, 1976; Nelson and Takahashi, 1991]. Thus, there
has been a large research effort devoted to the behavioral investigation
of hamster circadian rhythms [Morin, 1985]. Only recently has the
degree of anatomical research on the hamster circadian system begun to

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equal or exceed that which has existed for the rat [Johnson et al, 1988;
Botchkina and Morin, 1995a, 1995b; Kalsbeek et al, 1993; Morin and
Blanchard, 1995, 1997; Meyer-Bernstein and Morin, 1996]. Studies of
hamster rhythm physiology and biochemistry lag far behind those of the
rat. At least part of the reason for the dearth of research into hamster
functional neuroanatomy has been the absence of a detailed hamster
atlas. In the future, we hope that the presence of a stereotaxic atlas will
make the hamster a more accessible research model.
A history of hamster brain atlases
The most recent approach toward a hamster brain atlas consists of a
series of sections cut largely through the hypothalamus, plus a few
scattered sections as far caudal as the gracile nucleus in the caudal
brainstem. These were compiled by Charles W. Malsbury and published
as 14 line drawings in a chapter of the book, The Hamster: Reproduction
and Behavior, in 1985 [Malsbury et al, 1985]. A total of 59 brain struc-
tures are identified (compare with over 800 structures labeled in the
Paxinos and Watson atlas). Dr. Malsbury had previously prepared A
Schematic Stereotaxic Atlas of the Golden Hamster Brain which was
abstracted in the 1977 JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychol-
ogy. This atlas identified 57 structures and covered a region extending
from just rostral to the anterior commissure to the level of the posterior
hypothalamus. One sagittal section was included. Dr. Malsbury made a
significant contribution by providing the first accurate hamster atlas
based on the skull landmarks of lambda and bregma in the same hori-
zontal plane. He also provided lateral and rostro-caudal stereotaxic
measurements. Other hamster atlases known to us include a brief report
by Collins [1969] and those of Knigge and Joseph [1968] and Smith and
Bodemer [1963]. The former used a different skull orientation and the
latter inaccurate anterior-posterior coordinates. None provided histo-
logic material for identification purposes. A thorough list of atlases for
many vertebrate species compiled for The David Kopf Instruments
Company does not identify any additional for the hamster.
A note on nomenclature: Morin and Wood meet Paxinos and
Watson
Although an atlas of the rat brain is not adequate to describe the detailed
anatomy of hamster brain, it is evident even from a casual comparison
that there are substantial similarities between the two species. Rather
than developing a unique set of names and abbreviations for structures in
the hamster brain, we have chosen to follow closely the nomenclature
used in the rat stereotaxic atlas of Paxinos and Watson [1998], the most
widely-used atlas in rat neuroscience research. In this manner, we hope
to facilitate communication between neuroscientists using rats and
hamsters.
However, it was not possible for us to follow the rat nomenclature
exactly. In this hamster atlas, there are three principal reasons for
deviating from the names and abbreviations of Paxinos and Watson: lack
of research, species differences, and common usage. In the first in-
stance, many regions of the hamster brain have not been studied inten-
sively. Where no specific data is available for the hamster, we have tried
to avoid applying rat nomenclature to comparable subnuclei in hamster
brain. One example is the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST).
Even in the rat neuroscience community, there is substantial debate
concerning what should be identified as what (7 separate sets of nomen-
clature for BST are discussed in the chapter entitled, Amygdala and
Extended Amygdala by Alheid et al [1995]) As many as 20 different
subdivisions have been identified in the rat BST [Ju and Swanson,
1989]. Only 6 subdivisions of this nucleus have been described for the
hamster [Gomez and Newman, 1992]. The basic architecture of this
nucleus is similar in rats and hamsters, but it is clear that divisional
orientation, size, and location may be substantially different between
species. It would be inaccurate to apply the rat nomenclature to hamster
BST. We hope that future research will clarify the anatomy of BST and
other nuclei in the hamster. However, in the meantime, we have used a
more conservative parcellation in keeping with the current state of
knowledge.

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Species differences between rat and hamster constitute a second major
reason to depart from the Paxinos and Watson nomenclature. Certain
brain areas are significantly different in the rat and hamster. For ex-
ample, in the medial preoptic area, the hamster has a magnocellular
subdivision within the lateral portion of the medial preoptic nucleus
[MPNmag; Maragos et al, 1989] but lacks the well-known sexually-
dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area that has been described for the
rat.
Finally, where Paxinos and Watsons abbreviations occasionally depart
from common usage in the American neuroscience community, we have
adopted the more familiar terms. Paxinos and Watson have performed a
tremendous service by standardizing the names and abbreviations for
structures in the rat brain, and the Introduction to their atlas presents an
excellent discussion of their system. However, in certain instances, their
nomenclature has not been adopted. Ultimately, an atlas must strike a
balance between dictating and reflecting the terminology. To accommo-
date the idiosyncrasies of common usage, we have occasionally departed
from the regular system of nomenclature offered by Paxinos and Watson
[1998]. The suprachiasmatic nucleus is an example. Although Paxinos
and Watson denote this nucleus by SCh, it is most often referred to as
SCN in both the scientific literature and in conversation. Hence,
SCN is used in this atlas.
A new angle on hamster neuroanatomy: flat skull coordinates vs
plane of section
In the preparation of this atlas, we became aware of a subtle, though
important difference in the neuroanatomy of the rat and hamster. Most
atlases of the rat use the flat-skull orientation (bregma and lambda in the
same horizontal plane) for both stereotaxic coordinates and coronal brain
sectioning. This offers tremendous benefits in terms of repeatability in
both stereotaxic surgery and analysis of brain sections. Unfortunately,
this is not easily accomplished in the hamster.
Although the overall architecture of the rat and hamster brain is similar,
the orientation of their brains within the skull is not equivalent. We and
others use the flat-skull orientation for stereotaxic surgery in hamsters.
However, the hamster brain is not commonly sectioned in this same
plane. Instead, the hamster brain is typically cut perpendicular to the
ventral surface, thereby producing sections equivalent to the rat brain.
In the rat, the ventral brain surface is roughly parallel to the flat-skull
orientation, but the same is not true for the hamster brain. The typical
plane of section for the hamster brain is approximately 10 from the
vertical plane in a flat-skull orientation (see Figure 1A). Hence in our
photomicrographs, the reference tracks to mark the vertical plane appear
to move caudoventrally.

In the preparation of coronal sections for this atlas, we elected to section

the brain perpendicular to the ventral brain surface, the angled plane of
section, rather than perpendicular to the skull surface, the flat-skull
plane of section. This choice facilitates comparison with the rat, and
reflects common usage in the hamster neuroscience community. How-
ever, there are some drawbacks to this approach. First, it is difficult to
block the brain consistently at 10 from the flat skull orientation. We
find that brain blocking is the biggest source of error in producing
consistent coronal sections. In addition, using an angled plane of section
creates some difficulties in describing stereotaxic coordinates. Specifi-
cally, the anterior-posterior coordinates must be adjusted for tissue depth
(see below).
Stereotaxic reference system
For each atlas drawing, the mediolateral and dorsoventral distances in
mm are indicated by numbers along the top and sides of the grid (see
Figure 1C for example). The number at the upper right of each atlas
drawing (Figure 1C) corresponds to the distance (WZ) from bregma (W,
Figure 1B) to the plane of section at the skull surface (Z).
All coordinates for stereotaxic surgery in this atlas use bregma as the
zero-reference point. The mediolateral and dorsoventral coordinates for
stereotaxic surgery are identical to the distances indicated on the atlas
grid. For example, in Figure 1C, the mediolateral coordinate for the
massa intercalata (I) is 3.0 mm. The dorsoventral stereotaxic coordi-
nate (XY, Figure 1B) is indicated by the column of numbers along the
left and right sides of the grid (Figure 1C). For I, the dorsoventral
coordinate is -8.0 mm. The dimensions of the atlas grid have been
adjusted to account for the slight difference between XY (the dorsoven-
tral stereotaxic coordinate) and XZ (the dorsoventral dimension in the
section. As is shown in Figure 1B, XZ forms the hypotenuse of a right
triangle with XY = cos 10 * XZ. The anterior-posterior stereotaxic
coordinates (WY, Figure 1B) for structures at different tissue depths are
listed on each atlas drawing in the column at the far right (Figure 1C).
The anterior-posterior coordinate (WY) is equal to WZ-(sin 10* XZ).
That is to say, more ventral structures are reached by more rostral entry
points in the skull (Y, Figure 1B). Thus, the anterior-posterior coordi-
nate for I is +0.7 mm. Unfortunately, no atlas can be entirely accurate

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for all animals at all brain locations. Based on the results of a number of
stereotaxic surgeries, we estimate that the stereotaxic coordinates pre-
sented in this atlas are within 0.5 mm of the target sites. This error is
comparable to that of other rodent stereotaxic atlases.
Animals
Animals used for atlas material were normal adult male golden hamsters
weighing about 135 gm. Experience has shown that hamster skull
growth does not stabilize until the animal achieves a body weight of
about 135 gm. Experience has also shown that surgical precision along
the vertical axis is most reliable if made with respect to brain, rather than
to skull, surface. Unfortunately, brain-surface measurements are impos-
sible to include for all anterior-posterior and medial-lateral coordinate
combinations. In this atlas, stereotaxic coordinates are referenced to
bregma. However, we recommend that investigators use the dorsoven-
tral coordinates in this atlas to determine an appropriate dorsoventral
position relative to the brain surface for their particular area of interest.
Stereotaxic surgery
Hamsters were deeply anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and
placed in a Kopf stereotaxic instrument using standard Kopf pointed
earbars. The incisor bar was placed behind the incisors, and adjusted in
the vertical plane until the cranial landmarks, lambda and bregma, were
level. A row of 5 holes extending rostrocaudally was drilled through the
skull at 1 mm intervals, 1mm lateral to the midline. The vertical coordi-
nate of the dura below the first hole was measured, and then penetrated
with a sharp needle. A blunt 21 gauge needle was lowered to a depth of
3 mm below the dura. This absolute vertical coordinate was used when
dropping the needle through each of the remaining skull holes. These
needle tracks provide a series of reference points that permit an accurate
assessment of subsequent changes in brain shape, and adjustment of
stereotaxic scale during the atlas production.
Perfusion and histology
Immediately after the needle was withdrawn from the last hole, the

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animal was removed from the stereotaxic instrument and perfused with
phosphate-buffered saline, followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M
sodium phosphate buffer (PB, pH 7.4). Each brain was cryoprotected in
30% sucrose and carefully blocked. The brains were then moistened in
the sucrose solution, firmly wrapped in plastic film, placed in an airtight
bottle and frozen at -80C. Prior to sectioning, the caudal end of the
still-frozen brain was attached to a sliding block microtome freezing
stage with Cryofreeze. Sections were cut at 30 um from rostral to
caudal, with the knife cutting from dorsal to ventral. Individual sections
were collected into microcentrifuge tubes containing PB, and stored at
4C until staining. Every fourth section was stained for cresyl violet,
acetylcholinesterase, and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPHd). For cresyl
violet and acetylcholinesterase, sections were stained on gelatin-coated
slides. NADPHd was stained on free-floating sections. Sections were
dehydrated in 100% alcohol, cleared in xylenes, and coverslipped with
Permount.
Nissl stain
Mounted sections were rinsed in 100% ethanol for 15 min, rehydrated in
a graded alcohol series and stained with 0.4% cresyl violet for 5 min.
Cresyl violet stain was made as follows: 110 ml 1% cresyl violet acetate
(Kodak), 150 ml 0.1 M sodium acetate and 130 ml 0.1 M glacial acetic
acid. Excess stain was washed out with several changes of deionized
water and the tissue was dehydrated to 95% alcohol, then differentiated
in acidified 95% alcohol (1 ml glacial acetic acid in 250 ml 95% alco-
hol). A final rinse series included fresh 95% alcohol followed by two
changes of 100% alcohol and 4 changes of xylene. Tissue was
coverslipped with Permount.
Acetylcholinesterase histochemistry
Mounted sections were incubated overnight in the dark at room tempera-
ture in the following solution: mixed in this order, 50 mM sodium
acetate, 2 mM cupric sulfate, 10 mM glycine, 4 mM acetyl thiocholine
iodide, with pH adjusted to 5 with acetic acid. After incubation, slides
were rinsed briefly in water and developed in 1% ammonium sulfide for
1-2 min. Slides were rinsed in several changes of distilled water (ap-
proximately 15 min total), dehydrated and coverslipped with Permount.
NADPH diaphorase histochemistry
To visualize NADPHd, free-floating sections were stained in individual
wells of a 96-well tissue culture plate. Sections were rinsed once in
0.1M PB and then incubated in 0.1% B-NADPH and 0.01% nitroblue
tetrazolium chloride with 0.3% Triton X-100 for one hour at 37C with
gentle agitation. The reaction was stopped by rinsing in 0.1M PB.
Sections were mounted on gelatin-coated slides, air-dried, and
coverslipped as described above.
Photography
Slides were placed on a Northern Light Precision Illuminator (Model
B90). Digital images were captured in color using a SVMicro CM65
digital camera (Sound Vision Inc.). Each coronal photographic plate
presents adjacent half-sections stained for cresyl violet and acetylcho-
linesterase.
Drawings
Drawings were created from ink tracings of the illustrated cresyl violet-
stained half-section. Tracings were individually scanned into a com-
puter as bit-mapped files, then converted to vector diagrams using
CorelOCR-TRACE8 software. The tracings and digitized brain sections
were brought into CorelDraw8 and overlayed. All further alterations and
additions were made using CorelDraw8. A mirror image of each traced
half-section was created and merged with the original to create a sym-
metrical, full-coronal drawing. In this manner, the final drawings are
somewhat simplified from the actual sections because they do not
present left-right asymmetries in the brain. Furthermore, because each
photographic plate is comprised of images from two adjacent sections,
the two sides are not symmetric. Fiber tracts in each drawing are indi-
cated with solid lines, while nuclei are denoted by dashed lines. Ap-
proximate boundaries between cortical regions are indicated by dotted
lines.

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Abbreviations
Although the nomenclature used for the hamster brain does occasionally
depart from the rat nomenclature of Paxinos and Watson (see A note on
nomenclature, above), the system of abbreviations used here follows
that of Paxinos and Watson [1998]. Hence, fiber tracts are denoted in
lower case on the left hemisphere, nuclear groups and cortical areas
begin with a capital letter and are labeled on the right hemisphere.
Subnuclei are likewise indicated with capitals (MeAD for anterodorsal
medial amygdaloid nucleus, for example).
The basis of delineation of structures in this atlas
Throughout the preparation of this atlas, we have relied on the atlases of
Paxinos and Watson [1998] and of Swanson [1999] for detailed analysis
of the rat brain. Atlases of the rat brain have been particularly valuable
for regions of the hamster brain that have not been studied in detail, such
as the hippocampus and cerebellum. In addition to the specific publica-
tions listed below, we have utilized published and unpublished data from
our own laboratories using tract tracing and immunohistochemistry to
examine the connections and transmitters of selected regions of the
hamster brain. In addition to the sections stained for cresyl violet,
acetylcholinesterase, and NADPH diaphorase which are depicted in the
atlas, we have completed staining for calbindin, calretinin, neuN, and
parvalbumin. Moreover, a recently published atlas of the hamster
serotonergic and ascending median or dorsal raphe pathways to the level
of the anterior commissure has provided a good deal of experience
toward the present endeavor [Morin and Meyer-Bernstein, 1999].
Helboe et al [1999] have also provided a 15-section atlas based upon
that of Collins [1969]. We have also been aided by an excellent series of
cresyl violet-stained sections and drawings by Dr. Sarah W. Newman, of
the Department of Psychology at Cornell University.
Olfactory system
The anatomy of the hamster olfactory system, including the olfactory
bulbs, anterior olfactory nucleus, and related structures, is according to
the description of Davis and Macrides [1981].
Page 8
 Basal ganglia and basal forebrain
Few studies report on the anatomy of the hamster basal ganglia.
Newman and Winans [1980a & b] described the connections of hamster
nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. Recently, Johnson and Wood
[1999] compared the anatomy of the ventral striatum in rat and hamster
with a variety of immunohistochemical markers. Based on these studies,
it appears that the overall architecture of the basal ganglia in hamster is
similar to that of the rat. However, detailed information on fine struc-
ture, particularly for dorsal striatum, is lacking.
Septum and Hypothalamus
The cytoarchitectural descriptions of Maragos et al [1989] are used here
as a basis for the nuclei in the medial preoptic area [MPOA]. The
hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is described in Morin and
Blanchard [1993]; the suprachiasmatic nucleus, subparaventricular zone
and retrochiasmatic area are presented in Kalsbeek et al [1993] and
Morin et al [1994]. Nuclei of the lateral septum and anterior hypothala-
mus, particularly the nucleus circularis, have been studied in the hamster
brain by researchers interested in the neurobiology of agonistic behavior,
including Ferris et al [1990].
Amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
Nuclei of the hamster amygdala are as described in Gomez and Newman
[1992]. Details of the central amygdaloid nucleus are presented in
Halsell [1992]. Additional information is provided by Kevetter and
Winans [1981] and Lehman and Winans [1982]. For the bed nucleus of
the stria terminalis, we consulted with Dr. Jennifer Swann of the Depart-
ment of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University. The nomenclature we
adopted is slightly modified from Gomez and Newman (1992), and
resembles that of Alheid et al [1995] for the rat.
Thalamus
Different investigators have studied individual thalamic nuclei in the
hamster brain. However, there is no comprehensive overview of tha-
lamic anatomy. Reep and Winans [1982], Morin et al [1994], and Morin

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and Blanchard [1999] depict medial thalamic nuclei, including
anteromedial, central medial, gelatinosus, mediodorsal, paracentral,
parafascicular, parataenial, paraventricular, precommissural, reticular,
reuniens, rhomboid, and ventromedial nuclei. The lateral posterior
nucleus is presented in Ling et al [1997] and Morin and Blanchard
[1997]. The intramedullary area is described in Morin and Blanchard
[1997]. Refer to Halsell [1992] for illustration of the parafascicular and
ventral posteromedial nuclei. Morin et al [1995] and Morin and
Blanchard [1997] have detailed the dorsolateral geniculate, ventral
lateral geniculate, and intergeniculate leaflet.
Cortex
Divisions of agranular insular cortex have been described for the ham-
ster by Reep and Winans [1982a and b]. Further details of insular cortex
are presented in Yamamoto and Kitamura [1990]. Newman and Winans
[1980a and b] illustrate entorhinal and perirhinal cortex in a series of
schematics describing connections of the nucleus accumbens. Auditory
and somatosensory cortex are described in Morin and Blanchard [1997].
Areas of the visual cortex have been identified based on projections
from thalamic visual nuclei in comparison with equivalent structures in
the rat brain, as described by Sefton and Dreher [1995].
Raphe complex
The dorsal and medial raphe in the hamster are described by Morin and
Blanchard [1991] and Meyer-Bernstein and Morin [1996].
Midbrain
Finley et al [1978] and Rhoades et al [1989a and b] have described the
organization of the hamster superior colliculus. The pretectal nuclei are
described by Morin and Blanchard [1997, 1998].
Brainstem
A general description of dorsal brainstem anatomy is provided by Brin-
ing and Smith [1996]. The anatomy of the nucleus of the solitary tract
has been studied in detail by Whitehead [1988, 1990]. The location of
the gracile and cuneate nuclei are shown in Davis and Kream [1993].
Refer to Bruce et al [1987] for the spinal trigeminal nucleus and to
Halsell [1992] for a description of the parabrachial nucleus in hamster
brain. Several cranial nerve nuclei are shown by Travers et al [1995].
Visual system
The retinal projections to the pretectum and visual thalamic nuclei
(lateral geniculate and posterior thalamic nuclei have been described by
Morin et al [1992] and Morin and Blanchard [1997]. Visual cortex is
based on unpublished material (Morin and Blanchard) showing neurons
projecting to the dorsal lateral or ventral lateral geniculate or lateral
posterior nucleus.
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 INDEX OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations used in this atlas are listed in alphabetical order. Each
abbreviation is followed by the structure name and the number of the
figures on which the abbreviation appears.
3 oculomotor nucleus 37-39, 59-60
3n oculomotor nerve or its root 36, 63
3V 3rd ventricle 18-35, 59-62
4 trochlear nucleus 40, 60
4V 4th ventricle 40-57, 59-64
6 abducens nucleus 48-49, 60-62
6n abducens nerve 49
7 facial nucleus 50-54, 63-66
7n facial nucleus or its root 46-48, 63-66
8n vestibulocochlear nerve 47-52, 69
8vn vestibular root of the vestibulocochlear nerve 49
10 dorsal motor nucleus of vagus 55-58, 59-61
12 hypoglossal nucleus 56-58, 59-60
A APir amygdalopiriform transition area 31-37
AAA anterior amygdaloid area 22-23, 66-68
ac anterior commissure 19-20, 59-62
aca anterior commissure, anterior part 10-18, 63-65
Acb accumbens nucleus 10-11
AcbC accumbens nucleus, core 11-16, 62-66
AcbSh accumbens nucleus, shell 11-16, 61-66
aci anterior commissure, intrabulbar part 1-9, 62-66
ACo anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus 22-28, 69
acp anterior commissure, posterior part 18-22, 67-69
Acs5 accessory trigeminal nucleus 46-47
Acs7 accessory facial nucleus 49-50
AD anterodorsal thalamic nucleus 22-25, 63-64
AH anterior hypothalamic area 23-27, 60-62

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AHi amygdalohippocampal area 29-36, 68-69
AID agranular insular cortex, dorsal part 7-14, 67-69
AIP agranular insular cortex, posterior part 15-32, 67
AIV agranular insular cortex, ventral part 10-14, 68-69
alv alveus of the hippocampus 32-33
AM anteromedial thalamic nucleus 22-25, 61-62
Amb ambiguus nucleus 55-57, 65
AMV anteromedial thalamic nucleus, ventral part 24-26
AOB accessory olfactory bulb 2
AOD anterior olfactory nucleus, dorsal part 4-7
AOE anterior olfactory nucleus, external part 2
AOED anterior olfactory nucleus, external part, dorsal subdivision 4
AOEL anterior olfactory nucleus, external part, lateral subdivision 3
AOEV anterior olfactory nucleus, external part, ventral subdivision 4
AOL anterior olfactory nucleus, lateral part 3-7, 64
AOM anterior olfactory nucleus, medial part 4-8, 59-62
AOP anterior olfactory nucleus, posterior part 9-11, 61-62
AOT nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract 22-23, 68
aot accessory optic tract 35-36
AOV anterior olfactory nucleus, ventral part 5-7, 61
AP area postrema 58-61
apmf ansoparamedian fissure 56-58. 64-67
APT anterior pretectal nucleus 30, 33-36, 64-66
APTD anterior pretectal nucleus, dorsal part 31-32
APTV anterior pretectal nucleus, ventral part 31-32
Aq aqueduct (Sylvius) 36-39, 59-62
ar acoustic radiation 29-32, 65-68
Arc arcuate hypothalamic nucleus 28-35, 59-61
asc7 ascending fibers of facial nucleus 50
AStr amygdalostriatal transition area 23-30
Au primary auditory cortex 28-39
AV anteroventral thalamic nucleus 22, 63
AVDM anteroventral thalamic nucleus, dorsomedial part 23-26, 62-
64
Page 13
AVPe anteroventral periventricular nucleus 18, 59
AVVL anteroventral thalamic nucleus, ventrolateral part 23-24, 62-65
B Cb3 cerebellar lobule 3 43-49, 59-68
B basal nucleus (Meynert) 25-27, 68-69
BAC bed nucleus of the anterior commissure 20, 61
Bar Barringtons nucleus 45-47, 63
BIC nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus 37-42
bic brachium of the inferior colliculus 37-41, 67
BLA basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part 24-27, 69
BLP basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, posterior part 28-35, 69
BLV basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, ventral part 28-29, 69
BMA basomedial amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part 23-27
BMP basomedial amygdaloid nucleus, posterior part 27-31, 69
bp brachium pontis (stem of middle cerebellar peduncle) 38-42
bsc brachium of the superior colliculus 27-34, 62-69
BST bed nucleus of the stria terminalis 65
BSTAI bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, anterointermediate part 17-
19, 63-64
BSTAL bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, anterolateral part 17-19
BSTAM bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, anteromedial part 17-19,
62
BSTAV bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, anteroventral part 17-19,
62-64
BSTIA bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, intraamygdaloid part 27-
29
BSTPI bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, posterointermediate part
20-23, 61-64
BSTPL bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, posterolateral part 20-22
BSTPM bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, posteromedial part 20-23,
60-63
C cp cerebral peduncle 29-39, 61-68
CA1 field CA1 of the hippocampus 25-37, 59-69
CA2 field CA2 of the hippocampus 25-35, 61-69

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CA3 field CA3 of the hippocampus 24-36, 59-69
Cb1 cerebellar lobule 1 45-48, 59-62
Cb2 cerebellar lobule 2 43-47, 59-64, 66-68
Cb4 cerebellar lobule 2 44-49, 59-69
Cb5 cerebellar lobule 3 44-50, 59-69
Cb6 cerebellar lobule 6 49-55, 59-64
Cb7 cerebellar lobule 7 51-57, 59-68
Cb8 cerebellar lobule 8 51-62
Cb9 cerebellar lobule 9 51-64
Cb10 cerebellar lobule 10 51-56, 59-64
CC central canal 58
cc corpus callosum 17-27, 59-69
Ce central amygdaloid nucleus 23, 28, 69
CeC central amygdaloid nucleus, capsular part 24-27
CeM central amygdaloid nucleus, medial part 24-27
cg cingulum 14-33, 61-62
Cg cingulate cortex 20-23, 59-63
Cg1 cingulate cortex, area 1 7-19, 59-62
Cg2 cingulate cortex, area 2 14-19, 60
CGA central gray, alpha part 45-46, 61-62
CGB central gray, beta part 45-46, 61-62
CGM central gray, medial part 47, 59-60
CGPn central gray of the pons 46-48, 61-62
CIC central nucleus of the inferior colliculus 42-44, 59-65
cic commissure of the inferior colliculus 40-43, 60-63
CL centrolateral thalamic nucleus 25-29, 63-64
Cl claustrum 11-25, 66-68
CLi caudal linear nucleus of the raphe 38-41, 59-60
CM central medial thalamic nucleus 23-30, 59-62
CnF cuneiform nucleus 38-43, 65-66
Cop copula of the pyramis 54-58, 63-69
CPT central pretectal nucleus 31-33, 61-64
CPu caudate putamen (striatum) 12-30, 63-69
Crus 1 crus 1 of the ansiform lobule 49-56, 64-69
Crus 2 crus 2 of the ansiform lobule 54-58, 64-69
csc commissure of the superior colliculus 34-39, 59
ctg central tegmental tract 39
Cu cuneate nucleus 56-58, 63-65
cu cuneate fasciculus 64
Cx cerebral cortex 5-6
D DTT dorsal tenia tecta 8-12, 59-60, 62
D3V dorsal 3rd ventricle 22-30
DA dorsal hypothalamic area 28-29, 59
DC dorsal cochlear nucleus 49-53, 66-68
DCIC dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus 40-44, 60-65
DEn dorsal endopiriform nucleus 8-33, 66-69
df dorsal fornix 20-21, 59
DG dentate gyrus 24-39, 59-69
dhc dorsal hippocampal commissure 60-61
DI dysgranular insular cortex 14-22
Dk nucleus of Darkschewitsch 34-36, 60
dlf dorsal longitudinal fasciculus 33-35
DLG dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus 24-33, 68-69
DLi dorsal linear nucleus of the raphe 39
DLL dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus 43, 66-67
dlo dorsal lateral olfactory tract 3-5
DLPAG dorsolateral periaqueductal gray 33-41, 61-63
DM dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus 28-32, 60-62
DMPAG dorsomedial periaqueductal gray 34-41, 59-60
DMSp5 dorsomedial spinal trigeminal nucleus 55-56, 65-66
DMTg dorsomedial tegmental area 44, 60-64
DP dorsal peduncular cortex 9-10, 59, 62-63
DpG deep gray layer of the superior colliculus 35-40, 60-66
DPGi dorsal paragigantocellular nucleus 49-53, 60-62
DpMe deep mesencephalic nucleus 34-42, 61-66
DpWh deep white layer of the superior colliculus 35-39, 60-64
DR dorsal raphe nucleus 39-43, 59-61

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DRC dorsal raphe nucleus, caudal part 44-46, 59
dsc dorsal spinocerebellar tract 56-58
DT dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract 34-36
DTg dorsal tegmental nucleus 43-45, 60-61
dtg dorsal tegmental bundle 33-42, 63
dtgx dorsal tegmental decussation 38, 59-61
DTM dorsal tuberomammillary nucleus 33
DTr dorsal transition zone 8, 61-62
E
E ependyma and subependymal layer 1-16, 62-64
ec external capsule 13-31, 58-59
ECIC external cortex of the inferior colliculus 39-44, 60-67
Ect ectorhinal cortex 40-43
ECu external cuneate nucleus 53-58, 64-66
eml external medullary lamina 27-28, 65
EPl external plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb 1-6, 60-64
EPlA external plexiform layer of the accessory olfactory bulb 3-5
EW Edinger-Westphal nucleus 34-38, 59
F
F nucleus of the fields of Forel 32-33, 63-65
f fornix 19-34, 59-63
fi fimbria of the hippocampus 22-31, 63-68
Fl flocculus 48-55
fmi forceps minor of the corpus callosum 11-15, 63-68
fmj forceps major of the corpus callosum 30-42, 63-69
fr fasciculus retroflexus 29-35, 60-62
G
g7 genu of the facial nerve 48-49, 60-62
gcc genu of the corpus callosum 15-16, 59-62
GI granular insular cortex 13-29
Gi gigantocellular reticular nucleus 60-61
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GiA gigantocellular reticular nucleus, alpha part 49-54, 60-62
GiV gigantocellular ret nucleus, ventral part 54-58, 60-63
Gl glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb 1-6, 59-65
GlA glomerular layer of the accessory olfactory bulb 3-5, 62-64
GP globus pallidus 24-28, 66-69
Gr gracile nucleus 58-62
gr gracile fasciculus 60-62
GrA granule cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb 2-5
GrO granular cell layer of the olfactory bulb 1-6, 59-64
H IO inferior olive 59-62
hbc habenular commissure 30-31, 59
HDB nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca
61-66
hf hippocampal fissure 28-39, 62-69
I IPA interpeduncular nucleus, apical subnucleus 39
I intercalated nuclei of the amygdala 24-29
I5 intertrigeminal nucleus 44-46, 66
I8 interstitial nucleus of the vestibulocochlear nerve 49
IAD interanterodorsal thalamic nucleus 23, 60-62
IAM interanteromedial thalamic nucleus 24-29, 59-63
ic internal capsule 20-34, 65-69
icf intercrural fissure 53-56, 64, 66-69
ICj islands of Calleja 10-16, 66
icp inferior cerebellar peduncle 48-50, 65-68
IF interfascicular nucleus 35-37, 59
IG indusium griseum 13-30, 59
IGL intergeniculate leaf 24-34, 68-69
IL infralimbic cortex 10-13, 59-63
ILL intermediate nucleus of the lateral lemniscus 40-43, 66-67
IMA intramedullary thalamic area 29-31
IMD intermediodorsal thalamic nucleus 26-28, 59
IMLF interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus 34-35,
61

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IMLFG interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus, greater
part 34-36, 61-62
In intercalated nucleus of the medulla 55-56, 60
InCo intercollicular nucleus 36-39, 62-66
InG intermediate gray layer of the superior colliculus 34-39, 60-66
Int interposed cerebellar nucleus 47-53, 63-64, 67
IntA interposed cerebellar nucleus, anterior part 65-66
IntD interposed cerebellar nucleus, dorsal part 52-53
IntP interposed cerebellar nucleus, posterior part 50-51, 63-66
InWh intermediate white layer of the superior colliculus 34-39, 60-66
IOD inferior olive, dorsal nucleus 56-58, 63-64
IOM inferior olive, medial nucleus 57-58
IOPr inferior olive, principal nucleus 55-58
IPAC interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commis-
sure 16-23, 67-68
IPC interpeduncular nucleus, caudal subnucleus 36-39, 59
IPDL interpeduncular nucleus, dorsolateral subnucleus 38-39
IPDM interpeduncular nucleus, dorsomedial subnucleus 36-39, 59-60
IPF interpeduncular fossa 59
IPI interpeduncular nucleus, intermediate subnucleus 38-39, 63
IPL interpeduncular nucleus, lateral subnucleus 38-39, 61
IPl internal plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb 1-5, 60-64
IPR interpeduncular nucleus, rostral subnucleus 37-38, 59
IPRL interpeduncular nucleus, rostrolateral 36-37, 60
IRt intermediate reticular nucleus 49-64
IS inferior salivatory nucleus 49-50
J
Jx5 juxtatrigeminal area 46
K
KF Kolliker-Fuse nucleus 43-44
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 L LSI lateral septal nucleus, intermediate part 12-20, 59-63
La lateral amygdaloid nucleus 24-33, 69
LAcbSh lateral accumbens shell
Lat lateral (dentate) cerebellar nucleus 50-53, 67-69
LC locus coeruleus 44-47, 63-64
LD laterodorsal thalamic nucleus 24-28, , 65-67
LDM laterodorsal thalamic nu subnucleus, medial part 26-29, 64
LDTg lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus 41-45, 61-63
LDTgV lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus, ventral part 43-44, 63
LEnt lateral entorhinal cortex 33-43
lfp longitudinal fasciculus of the pons 40-43, 60-65
LH lateral hypothalamic area 23-33, 62-65
LHb lateral habenular nucleus 25-30, 60-63
LHbM lateral habenular nucleus, medial 30
LHbL lateral habenular nucleus, lateral 30
Li linear nucleus of the medulla 56-57
ll lateral lemniscus 40-44, 63-66
LM lateral mammillary nucleus 34-35, 62-63
lo lateral olfactory tract 2-22, 63-69
LOT nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract 22-23, 67-68
LP lateral posterior thalamic nucleus 27-33, 64-67
LPAG lateral periaqueductal gray 33-43, 60-64
LPB lateral parabrach nucleus 63-65
LPBC lateral parabrach nucleus
LPBC lateral parabrach nucleus, central part 43-46
LPBE lateral parabrach nucleus, external part 43-46
LPBI lateral parabrachial nucleus, internal part 45
LPBS lateral parabrach nucleus, superior part 43-44
LPBV lateral parabrachial nucleus, ventral part 45-46
LPGi lateral paragigantocellular nucleus 54-58, 63-65
LPO lateral preoptic area 18-22, 63-66
LR4V lateral recess of the 4th ventricle 49-55, 64
LRt lateral reticular nucleus 65-66
LRtPC lateral reticular nucleus, parvicellular part 67
LSD lateral septal nucleus, dorsal part 14-20, 59-62

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LSO lateral superior olive 66
LSS lateral stripe of the striatum 13-23, 67
LSV lateral septal nucleus, ventral part 14-20, 61-63
LT lateral terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract 33-36, 68
LV lateral ventricle 13-33, 63-69
LVe lateral vestibular nucleus 47-51, 64-66
lvs lateral vestibulospinal tract 49, 63
M
M motor cortex 19-30, 59-66
M1 primary motor cortex 8-18, 63-69
M2 secondary motor cortex 7-18, 59-67
m5 motor root of the trigeminal nerve 43-47, 66-67
MA3 medial accessory oculomotor nucleus 34-36, 59-60
mcp middle cerebellar peduncle 42-48, 66-69
MCPC magnocellular nucleus of the posterior commissure 31-33, 61-
62
MD mediodorsal thalamic nucleus 24-30, 60-62
MdD medullary reticular nucleus, dorsal part, 65
ME median eminence 30-33, 59
Me5 mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus 37-47, 63-64
me5 mesencephalic trigeminal tract 37-47, 64-65
MeAD medial amygdaloid nucleus, anterodorsal part 25-26, 67-68
MeAV medial amygdaloid nucleus, anteroventral part 25-26, 67-68
Med medial (fastigial) cerebellar nucleus 48-52, 62-64
MEnt medial entorhinal cortex 39-45, 68-69
MePD medial amygdaloid nucleus, posterodorsal part 27-30, 67-68
MePV medial amygdaloid nucleus, posteroventral part 27-28, 67-68
mfb medial forebrain bundle 12-33, 61-64
MG medial geniculate nucleus 32-36, 67-68
MGM medial geniculate nucleus, medial part 34-36
MGP medial globus pallidus 25-28, 66
MHb medial habenular nucleus 24-30, 60
Mi mitral cell layer of the olfactory bulb 1-6, 60-64
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MiA mitral cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb 3-5
MiTg microcellular tegmental nucleus 39-41, 66-67
ML medial mammillary nucleus, lateral part 34
ml medial lemniscus 28-67
mlf medial longitudinal fasciculus 36-62
MM medial mammillary nucleus, medial part 34-35, 59-62
MnPO median preoptic nucleus 18-20
MnR median raphe nucleus 40-44, 59
MO medial orbital cortex 8-9
Mo5 motor trigeminal nucleus 43-46, 65-66
mp mammillary peduncle 35-37, 61-62
MPAG medial periaqueductal gray 33-38, 60
MPB medial parabrachial nucleus 43-46, 64-66
MPBE medial parabrachial nucleus, external part 44
MPN medial preoptic nucleus 19-22, 60-61
MPNmag medial preoptic nucleus, magnocellular part 22
MPO medial preoptic area 18-22, 60-63
MPT medial pretectal nucleus 32-33, 60-61
MRe mammillary recess of the 3rd ventricle
MS medial septal nucleus 15-19, 59
MT medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract 35-36, 64-65
mt mammillothalamic tract 25-34, 61-63
mtg mammillotegmental tract 31-39, 60-62
MTu medial tuberal nucleus 29-32, 63-64
MVe medial vestibular nucleus 48-56, 61-64
MVeMC medial vestibular nucleus, magnocellular part 65-66
N 64
NC nucleus circularis 24-25
NDB nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca 14-21
NOT nucleus of the optic tract 32-34, 66
O PC paracentral thalamic nucleus 25-30, 62-64
O nucleus O 46
oc olivocerebellar tract 56-58

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on olfactory nerve layer 1-2, 61-62
Op optic nerve layer of the superior colliculus 33-39, 59-66
OPT olivary pretectal nucleus 31-33, 63-65
ORB orbital cortex 7-10, 59-67
ot optic tract 24-33, 63-69
OV olfactory ventricle (olfactory part of the lateral ventricle) 1-12
OVLT organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis 17
ox optic chiasm 18-23, 59-62
P
P5 peritrigeminal zone 44
Pa paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus 23
Pa4 paratrochlear nucleus 40-41, 61-62
Pa6 paraabducens nucleus 48-49, 61-62
PaAM paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior magnocellular
part 21-23
PaDC paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal cap 24-25
PAG periaqueductal gray 32, 60
PaLM paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral magnocellular part
24-25, 60
PaMM paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, medial magnocellular
part 24-26, 60
PaPA paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior parvicellular part
24-25
PaPe paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, periventricular parvicellular
part 24-27
PaPo paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, posterior part 26-27, 61-
PaR pararubral nucleus 36-38, 64
PaS parasubiculum 41-44, 67-69
PBG parabigeminal nucleus 39-40
PBP parabrachial pigmented nucleus 35-37, 63
pc posterior commissure 31-33, 59-61
pcf precommissural fornix 20-21, 61-62
Page 18
PCGS paracochlear glial substance 67
PCRt parvicellular reticular nucleus 47-58, 63-66
pcuf preculminate fissure 45-49, 59-69
PDTg posterodorsal tegmental nucleus 46-47, 60
pd predorsal bundle 49-51, 59
Pe periventricular hypothalamic nucleus 22-31, 59
PeF perifornical nucleus 28-32, 63
PF parafascicular thalamic nucleus 30-32, 60-64
PFl paraflocculus 51-55
pfs parafloccular sulcus 48-55
PH posterior hypothalamic area 28-35, 59-61
Pir piriform cortex 8-32, 65-69
PiRe pineal recess 31, 59
PL paralemniscal nucleus 39-42, 66
PLCo posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus 26-33, 69
plf posterolateral fissure 52-55, 59-63
PLi posterior limitans thalamic nucleus 29-35, 66
PM paramedian lobule 56-58, 64-69
pm principal mammillary tract 34
PMCo posteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus 29-37, 69
PMD premammillary nucleus, dorsal part 33-34, 60-62
PMnR paramedian raphe nucleus 40-43, 60
pms paramedian sulcus 56-58
PMV premammillary nucleus, ventral part 33-35, 61-62
PN paranigral nucleus 35-37, 60
Pn pontine nuclei 38-43, 59-65
PnC pontine reticular nucleus, caudal part 45-48, 61-64
PnO pontine reticular nucleus, oral part 40-44, 61-65
PnR pontine raphe nucleus, 59
PnV pontine reticular nucleus, ventral part 45-48, 60
PO paraolivary nucleus 44-49, 63-65
Po posterior thalamic nuclear group 25-31, 63-67
PoDG polymorph layer of the dentate gyrus 28-38, 68-69
PoMn posteromedian thalamic nucleus 29-30, 59
Post postsubiculum 36-44, 66-69

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PoT posterior thalamic nuclear group, triangular part 33-36, 66
PP peripeduncular nucleus 34-36
ppf prepyramidal fissure 54-69
PPT posterior pretectal nucleus 32-33, 61-63
PPTg pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus 39-43, 64-65
PR prerubral field 32-35, 62-63
Pr prepositus nucleus 49-54, 59-62
Pr5 principal sensory trigeminal nucleus 43-46, 66
Pr5DM principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, dorsomedial part 47-48,
67
Pr5VL principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, ventrolateral part 47-49,
67
PrC precommissural nucleus 30-31, 60-61
prf primary fissure 46-51, 59-69
PRh perirhinal cortex 33-41
PrL prelimbic cortex 7-13, 59-63
PrS presubiculum 39-42, 68
psf posterior superior fissure 49-53, 55, 59-63, 66-69
PT paratenial thalamic nucleus 21-24, 61
PtA parietal association cortex 28, 65-69
pv periventricular fiber system 31-32, 59-60
PVA paraventricular thalamic nucleus, anterior part 21-26, 59-60
PVP paraventricular thalamic nucleus, posterior part 27-31, 59-60
py pyramidal tract 44-58, 59-62
R
Rbd rhabdoid nucleus 39-43, 59
RCh retrochiasmatic area 26, 59
Re reuniens thalamic nucleus 22-30, 59-61
ReIC recess of the inferior colliculus 59
rf rhinal fissure 7-43, 60-69
Rh rhomboid thalamic nucleus 25-29, 59-60
RI rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus 32-
33, 60-63
ri rhinal incisura 7-10
Page 19
RIP raphe interpositus nucleus 45-49, 59
RLi rostral linear nucleus of the raphe 34-38, 59
RMC red nucleus, magnocellular part 35-38, 62-64
RMg raphe magnus nucleus 45-53, 59
Ro nucleus of Roller 56-58, 59-60
ROb raphe obscurus nucleus 51-58, 59
RPa raphe pallidus nucleus 47-57, 59
RPC red nucleus, parvicellular part 35-38, 61-64
RPO rostral periolivary region 41-43, 65
RR retrorubral nucleus 39-40
RRF retrorubral field 38-39, 63-65
rs rubrospinal tract 38-58, 63-66
RSA retrosplenial agranular cortex 24-38, 59-66
RSG retrosplenial granular cortex 24-36, 59-64
Rt reticular thalamic nucleus 22-29, 62-69
RtTg reticulotegmental nucleus of the pons 40-46, 59-63
RtTgP reticulotegmental nucleus of the pons, pericentral part
60-61
RVL rostral ventrolateral reticular nucleus, 65-66
S sox supraoptic decussation 24-26, 59-62
S subiculum 32-41, 61-69
S1 primary somatosensory cortex 12-28, 65-69
S2 secondary somatosensory cortex 17-28
s5 sensory root of the trigeminal nerve 42-46, 66-68
scc splenium of the corpus callosum 28-29, 59-62
SCN suprachiasmatic nucleus 24-25, 59-60
SCom subcommissural nucleus 32
scp superior cerebellar peduncle 32-35, 42-50, 61-66
sf secondary fissure 54-58, 60-63
SFi septofimbrial nucleus 20-21, 60-61
SFO subfornical organ 22
SG suprageniculate thalamic nucleus 34-36
SGe supragenual nucleus 48, 61
SHi septohippocamal nucleus 13-16

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SI substantia innominata 21-26, 66-68
Sim simple lobule 45-47, 50-52, 66-69
SimA simple lobule A 48-49
SimB simple lobule B 48-49
simf simplex fissure 48-49
SL semilunar nucleus 10-12, 60-61
SM nucleus of the stria medullaris 24, 64-65
sm stria medullaris of the thalamus 21-24, 60-65
SNC substantia nigra, compact part 33-37, 65-67
SNL substantia nigra, lateral part 36
SNM substantia nigra, medial part 35
SNR substantia nigra, reticular part 33-38, 64-67
SO superior olive 44-48, 63-65
sol solitary tract 50-58, 62-64
SolC nucleus of the solitary tract, central part 58, 60
SolD nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal part 57-58, 61-63
41-43, SolM nucleus of the solitary tract, medial part 52-58, 60-64
SolVL nucleus of the solitary tract, ventrolateral part 53-58, 62-65
SON supraoptic nucleus 23-24
SOR supraoptic nucleus, retrochiasmatic part 25-28, 63-65
Sp5 spinal trigeminal nucleus 50-58, 65, 68
sp5 spinal trigeminal tract 47-58, 63-68
Sp5C spinal trigeminal nucleus, caudal part 67
Sp5D spinal trigeminal nucleus, dorsal part 48-54, 66
Sp5I spinal trigeminal nucleus, interpolar part 67
Sp5O spinal trigeminal nucleus, oral part 67
SPF subparafascicular thalamic nucleus 31-35, 60-63
SPTg subpedencular tegmental nucleus 41, 63-64
SpVe spinal vestibular nucleus 50-55, 64-66
st stria terminalis 19-28, 65-69
STh subthalamic nucleus 29-33, 65-67
str superior thalamic radiation 29-32, 66-68
Su3 supraoculomotor periaqueductal gray 37-40, 60-63
Su5 supratrigeminal nucleus 44-46, 65
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Sub submedius thalamic nucleus 26-29, 60-62
SubB subbrachial nucleus 37-39, 67
SubCA subcoeruleus nucleus, alpha part 45-46, 63
SubCD subcoeruleus nucleus, dorsal part 44-46, 63
SubCV subcoeruleus nucleus, ventral part 44-46
SubG subgeniculate nucleus 30-33, 68
SubI subincertal nucleus 28-31, 62-64
SuG superficial gray layer of the superior colliculus 33-39, 59-66
SuM supramammillary nucleus 33, 59
SuMM supramammillary nucleus, medial 34
SuML supramammillary nucleus, lateral 33-34, 60-63
sumx supramammillary decussation 33-34, 59
SuVe superior vestibular nucleus 46-49, 64-67
T VMHL ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, lateral part 28-30
TeA temporal association cortex 40-43
tfp transverse fibers of pons 38-43, 60, 63-65
TS triangular septal nucleus 20-21, 59-61
ts tectospinal tract 39-61
tth trigeminothalamic tract 40-44, 60-63
Tu olfactory tubercle 10-19, 59-68
Tz nucleus of the trapezoid body 44-49, 62
tz trapezoid body 46-49, 60-62, 67-68
U VTg ventral tegmental nucleus 42-44, 60
uf uvular fissure 58, 60-62
unc uncinate fasciculus 47-49
V X
V1 primary visual cortex 29-42, 67-69
V2L secondary visual cortex, lateral part 32-44
V2M secondary visual cortex, medial part 29-44, 60-69
VC ventral cochlear nucleus 47-49
VCA ventral cochlear nu, anterior 69

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VCP ventral cochlear nucleus, posterior part 50-52, 69
VDB nucleus of the vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca 59-
60
VeCB vestibulocerebellar nucleus 64
veme vestibulomesencephalic tract 48
VEn ventral endopiriform nucleus 20-30
vhc ventral hippocampal commissure 21-23, 59-64
VL ventrolateral thalamic nucleus 24-26, 62-67
VLG ventral lateral geniculate nucleus 29-32, 68-69
VLL ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus 40-42, 65-67
VLPAG ventrolateral periaqueductal gray 43, 62-63
VLTg ventrolateral tegmental area 41, 61-65
VM ventromedial thalamic nucleus 25-31, 62-65
VMH ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus 27, 31-32, 60-62
VMHM ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, medial part 28-30
vn vomeronasal nerve layer 3-5, 59, 62
VP ventral pallidum 12-18, 61-68
VPL ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus 25-31, 66-68
VPM ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus 26-33, 64-67
VPPC ventral posterior thalamic nucleus, parvicellular part 29-31,
62-63
VRe ventral reuniens thalamic nucleus 28-30, 60-61
vsc ventral spinocerebellar tract 42-58, 63-66
VTA ventral tegmental area 36-39, 60-64
vtgx ventral tegmental decussation 35-38, 59-62
VTT ventral tenia tecta 8-10, 60-62
X nucleus X 51-58, 65
Xi xiphoid thalamic nucleus 25-27, 59
xscp decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle 38-41, 59-63
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 Y
Y nucleus Y 67

Z
ZID zona incerta, dorsal part 29-32, 65-67
ZIL zona incerta, lateral part 28-34, 66-67
ZIM zona incerta, medial part 24-28, 62-65
Zo zonal layer of the superior colliculus 33-39

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 APPENDIX

Over the years, neuroscientists using hamsters in their research have accumulated stereotaxic coordinates for the particular brain regions that they
study. These were obtained by trial and error, and have been tested in studies of lesions, tract-tracing, and intracerebral stimulation. Different labora-
tories use hamsters of different age/weight, sex, or strain according to the demands of a particular experiment. Accordingly, the stereotaxic coordi-
nates are tailored to the specific hamsters used. A number of hamster neuroscientists have generously contributed their stereotaxic coordinates to
supplement those presented in the atlas. Coordinates for different brain regions are listed below, along with information about the hamsters under
study.

Unless specified in the column marked Special note, stereotaxic coordinates are based on the following standard conditions. Units are in mm.
Lambda and bregma are in the same horizontal plane. Bregma is the reference point for AP and ML coordinates; the DV coordinate uses dura as the
reference point. The entry is vertical (no angle).

Age/Wt Sex AP ML DV Procedure Investigators Special note

Amygdala
>135 gm M +0.6 3.2 -6.8 micropipette LP Morin et al

Anterior pretectal nucleus (APT)

>135 gm M -1.8 3.0 -3.7 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Basolateral amygdala
120 gm M -0.7 3.9 -7.4 electrode MN Lehman & SS Winans

Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)

>135 gm M +0.9 2.3 -4.95- 5.1 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle
200 gm M +1.1 1.2 -5.5 electrode HF Urbanski et al for anterior BNST

Central pretectal nucleus (CPT)

>135 gm M -1.9 1.0 -3.5 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -1.9 1.9 -3.8 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Corpus callosum (cc)

100-130 gm M -1.5 3.0 tract tracing YC Diao & KF So

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 Age/Wt Sex AP ML DV Procedure Investigators Special note
Corticomedial amygdala
120 gm M -0.3 2.9 -7.5- 7.8 electrode MN Lehman & SS Winans

Dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH)

110-120 gm M -0.0 1.4 -7.2 electrode J LeSauter & R Silver

Dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (DLG)

>135 gm M -1.8 3.3 -4.0 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -1.8 4.8 -3.7 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Dorsal raphe (DR)

>135 gm M -4.5 1.6 -4.8 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle
>135 gm M -4.2 1.7 -5.15 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al 20 angle

Intergeniculate leaflet (IGL)

110-120 gm M -1.4 3.2 -5.2 electrode J LeSauter & R Silver
110-130 gm M -1.8 3.3 -4.3 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -1.8 4.8 -3.8 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle
>135 gm M -1.8 2.8 -4.6 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al

Intramedullary thalamic area (IMA)

>135 gm M -1.8 3.0 -3.6 micropipette LP Morin et al

Lateral hypothalamus (LH)

>135 gm M +0.6 1.6 -6.5 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -0.2 1.3 -7.2 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al

Lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP)

>135 gm M -1.8 2.2 -3.4 micropipette LP Morin et al

Lateral septum (LS)

120-160 gm F +3.1 0.6 -4.3 micropipette DM Nance & GA Myatt 10 angle

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 Age/Wt Sex AP ML DV Procedure Investigators Special note
Lateral ventricle (LV)
>135 gm M +0.4 2.2 -3.8 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al DV measured from bregma
110-120 gm M +1.1- 1.5 1.3 -3.0 J LeSauter & R Silver for rostral LV
110-120 gm M +0.6 1.5 -3.0 J LeSauter & R Silver for caudal LV

Medial amygdaloid nucleus, anterior (MeA)

110-120 gm M +0.5 2.6 -7.9 micropipette DM Gomez & SW Newman DV measured from skull
surface
110-120 gm M +0.5 2.6 -7.9 micropipette DM Gomez & SW Newman DV measured from skull
surface
M +0.5 2.8 -7.7 micropipette LM Coolen & RI Wood DV measured from skull
surface

Medial amygdaloid nucleus, posterior (MeP)

110-120 gm M -0.5 2.7 -8.0 micropipette DM Gomez & SW Newman DV measured from skull
surface
M -0.1 2.8 -7.95 electrode D Parfitt, LM Coolen, RI Wood DV measured from skull
surface

Medial geniculate nucleus (MG)

>135 gm M -2.2 3.0 -4.5 micropipette LP Morin et al

Medial preoptic nucleus, magnocellular subdivision (MPNmag)

M/F 0.1 -7.4- 7.6 lesion/ tract tracing JM Swann et al DV measured from skull
surface
AP = (bregma-lambda)*0.28

Medial pretectal nucleus (MPT)

>135 gm M -2.0 1.2 -3.2 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Median raphe (MnR)

>135 gm M -4.5 2.3 -6.5 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle
>135 gm M -4.2 2.3 -6.85 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al 20 angle

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 Age/Wt Sex AP ML DV Procedure Investigators Special note
Medial septum (MS)
>135 gm M +1.0 1.0 -3.8 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle

Nucleus of the optic tract (NOT)

>135 gm M -1.9 2.85 -3.4 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Reuniens thalamic nucleus (Re)

>135 gm M +0.5 1.0 -5.5 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle

Olivary pretectal nucleus (OPT)

>135 gm M -1.9 2.4 -3.3 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Parabigeminal nucleus (PBG)

>135 gm M -4.0 2.3 -5.0 micropipette LP Morin et al

Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (Pa)

180-200 gm F -0.25 0.3 -7.3 lesion TJ Bartness et al

Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral (PaLM)

>135 gm M +0.4 1.8 -6.3 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT)

110-120 gm M +0.7 0.2 -4.9 J LeSauter & R Silver

Periaqueductal gray, dorsal (DPAG)

70 d/124 gm F -4.2 0.4 -4.7 electrode O Floody DV is relative to skull surface

Periaqueductal gray, ventral (VPAG)

70 d/124 gm F -3.4 0.5 -5.4 electrode O Floody DV is relative to skull surface

Posterior limitans nucleus (PLi)

>135 gm M -1.9 1.9 -3.5 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -1.8 3.1 -3.6 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

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 Age/Wt Sex AP ML DV Procedure Investigators Special note
Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT)
>135 gm M -1.8 1.8 -3.6 micropipette LP Morin et al

Stria terminalis (st)

110-125 gm M +0.2 2.0 -5.1- 5.5 electrode WF Maragos & SW Newman

Superior colliculus (SC)

110-210 gm M/F +1.5* 1.5 stim. electrode DP Northmore et al AP coordinate is relative to
lambda
>135 gm M -3.3 2.2 -2.4 micropipette LP Morin et al 20 angle

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

M +0.8 0.1 -7.9 electrode J LeSauter & R Silver
110-130 gm M +0.6 1.1 -7.7 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle
>135 gm M +0.6 1.3 -7.7 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle
>135 gm M +0.4 1.6 -7.95 Hamilton syringe LP Morin et al 10 angle
3-5 mo. M +0.7 0.2 -8.0- 8.2 rec. electrode S Yamazaki & M Manaker nose bar at -2 mm
3-5 mo.* M +1.0- 1.2 0.2 -7.9- 8.1 rec. electrode S Yamazaki & M Manaker tau-mutants,
nose bar at -2 mm

Subparaventricular area
>135 gm M +0.4 1.7 -7.1 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle

Ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (VLG)

>135 gm M -1.8 3.3 -4.7 micropipette LP Morin et al
>135 gm M -1.8 4.8 -4.4 micropipette LP Morin et al 10 angle

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

70 d/124 gm F -2.4 0.6 -7.3 electrode O Floody DV is relative to skull surface

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A STEREOTAXIC ATLAS of THE GOLDEN HAMSTER BRAIN
First Edition CD-ROM
Lawrence P. Morin Ruth I. Wood
XXXX University of Southern California
XXXX Keck School of Medicine
XXXX 1333 San Pablo Street BMT 304
XXXX Los Angeles, CA 90033
CD-ROM FEATURES
All of the text, schematics, and photomicrographs included with the
printed stereotaxic atlas are provided on this CD-ROM edition in
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). This format can be conve-
niently viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 which is pro-
vided on this CD-ROM for Macintosh OS and Microsoft Windows.
Acrobat Reader can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe web
site at <http://www.adobe.com/> to provide compatibility with other
operating systems such as LINUX, Solaris, SunOS, or OS/2.
Coronal sections are represented by 58 labeled schematics, 58 unlabeled
photomicrographs, and 58 unlabled schematics. Sagittal sections include
11 labeled photomicrographs. In addition to providing a navigable and
printer friendly format via PDF, we have also included the original
CorelDraw8 files of the coronal sections for more precise manipulations.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
For IBM PC compatible personal computers, Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
requires an Intel i486 or Pentium based computer, Microsoft Windows
95, Windows 98, or Windows NT (with service pack 3), 16 MB RAM,
and 80 MB of hard disk space.

Back to Start Page Page 28
For Apple Macintosh computers, Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 requires a
Power Macintosh or compatible computer, Apple System software 7.1.2
or better, 6 MB RAM, and 80 MB hard disk space.
USING THE CD-ROM
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 must be installed on your computer
to view the CD-ROM Atlas correctly. If Acrobat Reader 4.0 is not
already installed on your computer, use the provided installer to copy the
software to your computer.
The PDF file, GHB1.pdf contains the main atlas file. Start this up
using Adobe Acrobat Reader until you reach the Title Page/Start Page.
From here, you can click on any of the text headings to go into the atlas.
The CD-ROM atlas is a 250 page pdf document that is fully bookmarked
and supplied with built-in navigation tools.
Each of the coronal sections can be accessed via a sagittal reference
section that displays the locations of the 58 coronal sections. Clicking on
the numbers of each section will change the view to the labeled sche-
matic corresponding the that section. From there, one can navigate easily
to the corresponding photomicrograph and unlabeled schematic.
This whole thing is under construction. There will be better stuff later,
like trouble shooting guide, etc.
 SAGITTAL SECTION OF THE HAMSTER BRAIN

This schematic drawing of the hamster brain depicts the approximate location of the 58 coronal sections used in this atlas along the rostrocaudal axis.
The drawing traces the outline and major structures of a Nissl-stained section located 0.8 mm from the midline. Note the difference in angle of the
plane of section versus the dorsoventral coordinate in a flat skull orientation (vertical line at bregma). This angle is discussed in the Introduction (A
new angle on hamster neuroanatomy...), and is essential for calculating accurate stereotaxic coordinates in the anterior-posterior plane.

Back to Start Page (Select number to view corresponding coronal section)

 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 7.3

FIGURE 1 Bregma 7.3 mm

1 1 7.5

2 EPl
2 7.7
aci

GrO
Mi

3 IPl 3 7.9
E/OV

Gl

4 4 8.1

on
5 5 8.3

6 6 8.5

7 7 8.8

8 8 9.0

9 9 9.2

10 9.4
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 5.9

FIGURE 2 Bregma 5.9 mm

1 1 6.1

2 2 6.3
Gl

IPl
AOB

3 3 6.5
GrA

aci
4 4 6.7
AOE
Mi
lo E/OV

EPl GrO

5 5 6.9

on
6 6 7.1

7 7 7.3

8 8 7.5

9 9 7.8

10 8.0
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 5.5

FIGURE 3 Bregma 5.5 mm

1 1 5.7

2 2 5.9

Gl

GlA
3 IPl EPlA
GrO 3 6.1
Mi MiA
vn

dlo
4 GrA
AOEL 4 6.3
aci AOL
GrO

E/OV
5 EPl 5 6.5
lo

6 6 6.7

7 7 6.9

8 8 7.1

9 9 7.3

10 7.5
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 5.2

FIGURE 4 Bregma 5.2 mm

1 1 5.4

2 2 5.6

vn

3 vn GlA 3 5.8
MiA
EPlA

dlo AOED
GrA
IPl AOD
4 AOM
4 6.0
aci

GrO
AOL

EPl AOEV
5 lo
E/OV 5 6.2
Mi

Gl

6 6 6.4

7 7 6.6

8 8 6.8

9 9 7.0

10 7.2
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 4.9

FIGURE 5 Bregma 4.9 mm

1 1 5.1

2 2 5.3

Cx

3 3 5.5
vn
GlA
MiA
EPlA

dlo
4 lo EPl
GrA
4 5.7
AOD
Gl

aci Mi AOM
AOL

IPl
5 GrO
AOV
5 5.9
E/OV AOEV

6 6 6.1

7 7 6.4

8 8 6.6

9 9 6.8

10 7.0
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 4.6

FIGURE 6 Bregma 4.6 mm

1 1 4.8

2 2 5.0

3 3 5.2
Cx

4 4 5.5

AOD

5 lo
GrO 5 5.7
E/OV AOM
EPl
aci AOL

Gl AOV

6 Mi
6 5.9

7 7 6.1

8 8 6.3

9 9 6.5

10 6.7
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 4.3

FIGURE 7 Bregma 4.3 mm

1 1 4.5

2 M2
2 4.8

Cg1

3 3 5.0
PrL

4 (ORB)
4 5.2
AID

ri
rf
AOD
5 AOM
5 5.4
E/OV

aci
AOL

lo
AOV
6 6 5.6

7 7 5.8

8 8 6.0

9 9 6.2

10 6.4
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 4.1

FIGURE 8 Bregma 4.1 mm

1 1 4.3

2 M2 2 4.5

Cg1

3 (M1) 3 4.7

PrL

4 4 4.9
(ORB)
AID
MO

DTr
rf
5 ri
5 5.1
Pir
DTT DEn
E/OV
aci AOM
lo

6 AOP 6 5.3
VTT

7 7 5.5

8 8 5.7

9 9 5.9

10 6.1
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 3.8

FIGURE 9 Bregma 3.8 mm

1 1 4.0

2 M2 2 4.2

(M1)
Cg1

3 3 4.4

PrL

4 4 4.6

(ORB)
MO AID
ri
5 5 4.8
rf DP

E/OV
DTT DEn
Pir

aci

6 lo
AOP 6 5.0
VTT

7 7 5.2

8 8 5.4

9 9 5.6

10 5.8
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 3.2

FIGURE 10 Bregma 3.2 mm

1 1 3.4

M2
2 2 3.6

Cg1

(M1)

3 3 3.8

PrL

4 4 4.0

AID
IL

5 ri 5 4.2
(ORB)
AIV
DP
E/OV
rf
DTT DEn
Pir
6 aca Acb 6 4.4
VTT

AOP
lo ICj
SL

7 Tu 7 4.7

8 8 4.9

9 9 5.1

10 5.3
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 2.9

FIGURE 11 Bregma 2.9 mm

1 1 3.1

M2
2 2 3.3

Cg1 (M1)

3 3 3.5

fmi PrL
4 4 3.8
Cl

5 IL
5 4.0
AID

AIV
rf E/OV
DTT
6 DEn
6 4.2
AOP Pir
aca
Acb

lo
7 SL 7 4.4
Tu

8 8 4.6

9 9 4.8

10 5.0
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 2.6

FIGURE 12 Bregma 2.6 mm

1 1 2.8

M2

2 2 3.1
(M1)

Cg1

3 3 3.3

PrL

4 fmi 4 3.5
(S1)

IL
5 E/OV 5 3.7
Cl AID

DTT CPu
AIV
rf
6 LSI
AcbC
6 3.9
aca
Pir
SL DEn
aca
AcbSh
lo
7 mfb VP 7 4.1
ICj
Tu

8 8 4.3

9 9 4.5

10 4.7
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 2.4

FIGURE 13 Bregma 2.4 mm

1 1 2.6

M2

2 (M1)
2 2.8
Cg1

3 3 3.0
PrL
fmi (S1)

4 4 3.2
E IL
ec
CPu

GI
IG
5 LV 5 3.4
SHi Cl
AID

LSI
AIV

6 AcbC
6 3.6
rf
DEn
AcbSh
aca
ICj LSS Pir
aca
7 7 3.8
lo mfb
VP

Tu
8 8 4.0

9 9 4.2

10 4.4
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 2.1

FIGURE 14 Bregma 2.1 mm

1 1 2.3

M2
(M1)

2 2 2.5
Cg1

3 Cg2 3 2.7
cg
S1

fmi

4 ec 4 2.9
E

IG

CPu
LSD
5 LV
5 3.1
GI
LSV
Cl
SHi

LSI DI

6 AID 6 3.3
AcbC
rf AcbSh DEn AIV
LSS
aca

7 aca NDB Pir

7 3.5
ICj
lo

mfb
8 VP
Tu
8 3.7

9 9 3.9

10 4.1
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DV AP
0 1.8

FIGURE 15 Bregma 1.8 mm

1 1 2.0

M2 (M1)

2 2 2.2
Cg1

3 3 2.4
cg S1

fmi Cg2

E IG
4 ec
4 2.6
gcc
LV
LSD
CPu

5 SHi 5 2.8
LSI
GI

Cl
LSV DI

6 MS
AIP 6 3.0
rf
DEn
AcbSh
aca AcbC
LSS
aca ICj
7 NDB
Pir 7 3.2
lo mfb

VP

8 Tu
8 3.4

9 9 3.6

10 3.8
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rostral View Coronal Photo View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 1

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 2

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 3

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 4

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 5

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 6

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 7

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 8

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 9

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 10

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 11

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 12

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 13

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 14

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
 FIGURE 15

Rostral View Labeled Schematic View Sagittal Reference View Unlabeled Schematic Caudal 
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 CORONAL SECTION OF THE HAMSTER BRAIN

This schematic drawing of the hamster brain depicts the approximate location of the 11 sagittal photomicrographs, labeled Figures 59-69, used in this
atlas. The drawing traces the outline and major structures of a coronal section corresponding to Figure 25.

Back to Start Page (Select number to view corresponding sagittal photomicrograph)