The absence of spindle cells, or von Economo neurons (VENs), in the cortex of rodents, particularly Rattus norvegicus, has been previously reported. In this paper, we show microanatomic and immunohistochemical evidence of the existence of VENs-like cells in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and in the frontoinsular cortex (FI) of R. norvegicus. For this purpose, NADPH-d histochemistry, immunohistochemistry for nNOS, eNOS, NeuN, GABRQ, dopamine D3R and Nissl staining were performed. The

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... showed fusiform neurons positive for the aforementioned markers in layers III and V of the ACC and in layers III and V of the FI cortex. Fork neurons were also observed in the same areas. The NADPH-d-positive elements also indicated a close anatomical relationship between some VENs-like cells and blood capillaries. These findings demonstrate the anatomical existence of VENs-like cells in the rat.