Dithizone and sulphide silver staining of the amygdala in the cat

Summary In material obtained following the intravital injection of dithizone and sections prepared by the sulphide silver technique of Timm, a differential staining of the nuclear subgroups of the amygdala was observed. With both stains, the areas of maximum density were as follows: 1. the lateral border of the lateral nucleus; 2. the ventromedial part of the lateral nucleus; 3. an area in the parvocellular part of the basal nucleus; 4. a round area laterally in the central nucleus; 5. the cortical nucleus. It is suggested that the histochemical specificity of the stain is related to one or more of the afferent systems to the amygdala. The areas projecting to the amygdaloid complex are considered briefly and the possibility that the stain may be associated with the terminals of fibres arising in the pyriform cortex is discussed.Sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities, United States Public Health RO 5 TW-91 and NB 02215, and the Medical Research Council of Canada M. T. 870.