Table 2.
Dopamine systems | Origin | Projections | Function |
---|---|---|---|
Nigrostriatal | SN (A9) | Striatum | Motricity |
Mesocortical | VTA(A10) | Cortex | Emotionality |
Mesolimbic | VTA(A10) | NAc | Reward and desire |
Tuberoinfundibular | Arcuate Nucleus (A12) | Median Eminence | Regulation of prolactin release |
Incertohypothalamic | Zona Incerta (A13) Periventricular region (A14) | Various hypothalamic nuclei, thalamus | Sexual arousal and copulation |
Diencephalospinal | Hypothalamus (A11) | Spinal cord | Afferent stretch reflex, contraction of penile striated muscles |
Central dopamine pathways. Within the CNS, three major dopamine pathways exist; the nigrostriatal, mesocortical/mesolimbic and tuberoinfundibular systems which influence motor function, mood, reward and neuropeptide release. There are two additional minor dopamine pathways; the incertohypothalamic and diencephalospinal systems which are believed to modulate elements of sexual behavior. SN = substantia nigra; VTA = ventral tegmental area; Nac = nucleus accumbens).