1. E. Dopaminergic neurons are located in the midbrain and hypothalamus
E. Dopaminergic neurons are located in the midbrain and hypothalamus. The dopaminergic cell groups were originally included with the noradrenergic lettering system and are still labeled as A groups. The A9 cell group is located in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The A8 group is in a region of the midbrain tegmentum, dorsally adjacent to the substantia nigra. These two groups of neurons project to the striatum and play an important role in initiation of movement. The A10 group is located in the ventral tegmental area just medial to the substantia nigra. These cells project to the frontal and temporal cortex and limbic structures of the basal forebrain and play a role in emotion and memory. The A11 and A13 cell groups in the zona incerta of the hypothalamus project to the lower brain stem and spinal cord and regulate sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The A12, A14, and A15 cell groups are components of the neuroendocrine system. Some of them inhibit release of prolactin into the hypophysial portal circulation, and others control gonadotrophin secretion. Dopaminergic neurons are also found in the olfactory bulb (A16) and the retina (A17).
Source: The Modulatory Functions of the Brain Stem, Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Editon
Citation: Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM, Siegelbaum SA, Hudspeth AJ, Mack S. Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Editon; 2012 Available at: Accessed: November 08, 2017
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