A ventral lateral geniculate nucleus projection to the dorsal thalamus and the midbrain in the cat

Summary Retrograde tracing experiments using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) have been utilized for demonstrating the origin of efferent projections of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNv) in the cat. HRP-positive cells identifiable as origins of thalamic projections were found in LGNv after injections of HRP into the lateral central intralaminar nucleus. The labeled cells appeared concentrated in the medial part of the internal division of LGNv, consisting of medium-sized multipolar cells. Contralaterally, fewer labeled cells were present in the corresponding part of LGNv. In the case of injections of HRP into the midbrain (pretectum and superior colliculus), labeled cells in LGNv were distributed almost exclusively in its external division, composed of mainly small cells. Little overlap of the distribution of HRP-positive cells was seen in LGNv between the thalamic and midbrain injection cases.Abbreviations Ad Dorsal anterior nucleus - Am Medial anterior nucleus - Av Ventral anterior nucleus - BSC Brachium of superior colliculus - Cg Central gray - Cl Lateral central nucleus - Ld Dorsal lateral nucleus - LGNd Dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus - LGNv Ventral lateral geniculate nucleus - Lp Posterior lateral nucleus - Md Dorsal medial nucleus - NIII Oculomotor complex - NOT Nucleus of the optio tract - NPC Nucleus of posterior commissure - OT Optic tract - P Posterior nucleus (Rioch 1929) - Pc Paracentral nucleus - Po Posterior group of thalamic nuclei - Pt Parataenial nucleus - PTa Anterior pretectal nucleus - PTm Medial pretectal nucleus - PTp Posterior pretectal nucleus - Pul Pulvinar - R Red nucleus - Rt Thalamic reticular nucleus - Sg Suprageniculate nucleus - Va Anterior ventral nucleus - VI Lateral ventral nucleus - Vm Medial ventral nucleus - Vpl Posterolateral ventral nucleus - Vpm Posteromedial ventral nucleus - Zi Zona incerta - II Layer of superior colliculus - III Layer of superior colliculus - IV (Kanaseki and Sprague, 1974)     

Efferent projections of the pretectum in the cat

Summary Direct projections from the pretectum in the cat were investigated by means of the Nauta-Gygax and the Fink-Heimer method in an attempt to identify the morphological substrates subserving possible neural mechanisms involved in visual behaviour and reflexes.Degeneration in the diencephalon was found ipsilaterally in the nucleus limitans, lateral pulvinar nucleus, lateral posterior nucleus, lateral dorsal nucleus, dorsal and ventral lateral geniculate nuclei, centre medianparafascicular complex, central medial nucleus, paracentral nucleus, central lateral nucleus, ventroanterior and ventrolateral nuclear complex, zona incerta, H field of Forel and the reticular nucleus. The pretectal fibers projecting to the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus appeared to be topically organized.In the midbrain, the pretectal fibers were observed to terminate ipsilaterally within the superior colliculus, nucleus of Darkschewitsch, dorsolateral portion of the red nucleus, lateral terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract and the reticular formation, and bilaterally within the central gray, interstitial nucleus of Cajal and the rostral portion of the nucleus of Edinger-Westphal. Degeneration in the superior colliculus was marked in laminae II, III and IV. The fibers arising from more anterior part of the pretectum appeared to be distributed more medially in laminae II and III.The pretectopontine fibers terminated ipsilaterally in the paramedial and the dorsolateral pontine nuclei as well as the reticular formation. In the inferior olivary complex, degeneration was found in caudal levels of the dorsal cap and -nucleus, and additionally in the rostral portion of the dorsal accessory olive.     

Efferent fiber projections of the habenula and the interpeduncular nucleus. An experimental study in the opossum and cat

Summary A study of efferent fiber connections of the habenula and the inter-peduncular nucleus was conducted using anterograde degeneration techniques. Lesions were placed in the habenula of the opossum and the habenula and interpeduncular nucleus of the cat. Degeneration was studied by means of the Nauta and Fink-Heimer techniques.Fibers from the habenular nucleus of the opossum extended caudally and were traced bilaterally to the interpeduncular nucleus, dorsal tegmental nucleus of Gudden, deep (ventral) tegmental nucleus of Gudden, nucleus centralis superior and nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis. Rostrally fibers were traced to the preoptic and septal region and the anterior and lateral hypothalamus.The medial and lateral habenular nuclei of the cat projected differentially to portions of the interpeduncular nucleus and the tegmental nuclei of Gudden. The medial habenular nucleus sent fibers to the paramedian subnucleus of the interpeduncular nucleus and to the deep tegmental nucleus; whereas the lateral habenular nucleus distributed to the apical and central subnuclei of the interpeduncular nucleus and the dorsal tegmental nucleus.Fibers from both the medial and lateral habenular nuclei were found to project bilaterally to the nucleus paraventricularis anterior, nucleus ventralis anterior, anterior medialis and anterior dorsalis of the thalamus, and the septal area.Fibers from the interpeduncular nucleus of the cat were represented bilaterally. Those passing rostral went to the lateral habenular nucleus, nucleus centromedianus and parafascicularis of the thalamus, and to the septal area. Those directed caudally projected to the nucleus centralis superior, and the dorsal and deep tegmental nucleus of Gudden.Abbreviations AC anterior commissure - AD nucleus anterior dorsalis - AM nucleus anterior medialis - AV nucleus anterior ventralis - BC brachium conjunctivum - CC corpus callosum - CD caudate nucleus - CI internal capsule - CL nucleus centralis lateralis - CM nucleus centromedianus - CP cerebral peduncle - DT dorsal tegmental nucleus (of Gudden) - EN entopeduncular nucleus - Fx fornix - GC central gray - GL lateral geniculate nucleus - GM medial geniculate nucleus - GP globus pallidus - HbPt habenulopeduncular tract - HVM ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus - IC inferior colliculus - IP interpeduncular nucleus - LHb lateral habenular nucleus - LL lateral lemniscus - LMN lateral mammillary nucleus - LP nucleus lateralis posterior - MD nucleus medialis dorsalis - MHb medial habenular nucleus - ML medial lemniscus - MMN medial mammillary nucleus - MP mammillary peduncle - NCM nucleus centralis medialis - OC optic chiasm - OT optic tract - Pf nucleus parafascicularis - Pul pulvinar - PUT putamen - RE nucleus reuniens - RN red nucleus - RPO preoptic area - RTP nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontisv (von Bechterew) - S stria medullaris - SC superior colliculus - SN substantia nigra - SPT septal area - VA nucleus ventralis anterior - VL nucleus ventralis lateralis - VM nucleus ventralis medialis - VPL nucleus ventralis posterolateralis - VPM nucleus ventralis posteromedialis - VT deep tegmental nucleus (of Gudden) - II optic nerve     

Brain stem projections to the pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex of the cat

Summary The present experiments were undertaken to define the areas of projection of pretectum and superior colliculus to the pulvinar and n. lateralis posterior, respectively, and to define other brain stem structures projecting to these thalamic nuclei in cats. For this purpose the technique of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been used.After injection of the enzyme in the pulvinar, neurons were labeled in all subdivisions of the pretectal area. The majority of the labeled cells were located in the n. pretectalis posterior and n. tractus opticus although cells filled with HRP were present also in the n. pretectalis anterior pars compacta and area pretectalis medialis. Neurons projecting to the pulvinar were also found in the periaqueductal gray, reticular formation and locus coeruleus.When HRP was injected in the n. lateralis posterior, labeled neurons were present in the II and III subdivisions of the second layer of the superior colliculus. The location of these cells shifted from medial to lateral as the injections were shifted from posterior to anterior within the lateralis posterior. Neurons projecting to this nucleus were also present in the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus, lateral hypothalamus and parabigeminal nucleus.The possible role of the pretectal area and superior colliculus in mediating somesthetic input to the pulvinar and lateralis posterior, respectively, and the role of these structures in the control of ocular movements, are discussed.Abbreviations APM area pretectalis medialis - Cu nucleus cuneiformis - CS nucleus centralis superior - fr fasciculus retroflexus - Gp pontine gray - Hb nucleus habenulae - IC inferior colliculus - LC locus coeruleus - LGB lateral geniculate body - LP lateralis posterior - MGB medial geniculate body - nPA_c nucleus pretectalis anterior pars compacta - nPA_r nucleus pretectalis anterior pars reticularis - nPC nucleus posterior commissurae - nPP nucleus pretectalis posterior - nTO nucleus tractus opticus - PAG periaqueductal gray - PB nucleus parabigeminalis - Pi pulvinar inferior - PO nucleus posterior of the thalamus - Pul pulvinar - Pt pretectum - RF reticular formation - Rtp tegmental reticular nucleus - SC superior colliculus Supported by H. de Jur Foundation and USPHS Grant TWO 2718Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Postfach 968, D-3400 Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany     

Corticothalamic connections of the superior temporal sulcus in rhesus monkeys

Summary The corticothalamic connections of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) were studied by means of the autoradiographic technique. The results indicate that corticothalamic connections of the STS in general reciprocate thalamocortical connections. The cortex of the upper bank of the STS-multimodal areas TPO and PGa-projects to four major thalamic targets: the pulvinar complex, the mediodorsal nucleus, the limitanssuprageniculate nucleus, as well as intralaminar nuclei. Within the pulvinar complex, the main projections of the upper bank of the STS are directed to the medial pulvinar (PM) nucleus. Rostral upper bank regions tend to project caudally and medially within the PM nucleus, caudal upper bank regions, more laterally and ventrally. The mid-portion of the upper bank tends to occupy the central sector of the PM nucleus. There are also relatively minor projections from upper bank regions to the lateral pulvinar (PL) and oral pulvinar (PO) nuclei. In contrast to the upper bank, the projections from the lower bank are directed primarily to the pulvinar complex, with only minor projections to intralaminar nuclei. The rostral portion of the lower bank projects mainly to caudal and medial regions of the PM nucleus, whereas the caudal lower bank projects predominantly to the lateral PM nucleus, and also to the PL, PO, and inferior pulvinar (PI) nuclei. The mid-portion of the lower bank projects mainly to central and lateral portions of the PM nucleus, and also to the PI and PL nuclei. The rostral depth of the STS projects mainly to the PM nucleus, with only minor connections to the PO, PI, and PL nuclei. The midportion of multimodal area TPO of the upper bank, areas TPO₂ and TPO₃, projects preferentially to the central sector of the PM nucleus. It is possible that this STS-thalamic connectivity has a role in behavior that is dependent upon more than one sensory modality.Abbreviations AM anterior medial nucleus - AS arcuate sulcus - AV anterior ventral nucleus - BSC brachium of the superior colliculus - Cd caudate nucleus - Cif nucleus centralis inferior - Cim nucleus centralis intermedialis - CL central lateral nucleus - CM centromedian nucleus - CM-Pf centromedian-parafascicular nucleus - Cs nucleus centralis superior - CS central sulcus - CSL nucleus centralis lateralis superior - GLd dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus - GM medial geniculate nucleus - Hb habenula - IOS inferior occipital sulcus - IPS intraparietal sulcus - LD lateral dorsal nucleus - LF lateral fissure - Li limitans nucleus - LP lateral posterior nucleus - LS lunate sulcus - MD mediodorsal nucleus - Pa paraventricular nucleus - Pen paracentral nucleus - Pf parafascicular nucleus - PI inferior pulvinar nucleus - PL lateral pulvinar nucleus - PM medial pulvinar nucleus - PO oral pulvinar nucleus - PS principal sulcus - Pt parataenial nucleus - R reticular nucleus - Re reuniens nucleus - SG suprageniculate nucleus - STN subthalamic nucleus - STS superior temporal sulcus - THI habenulo-interpeduncular tract - VLc nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars caudalis - VLm nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars medialis - VLo nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars oralis - VLps nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars postrema - VPI ventroposteroinferior nucleus - VPLc nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis, pars caudalis - VPLo nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis, pars oralis - VPM ventroposteromedial nucleus - VPMpc ventroposteromedial nucleus, parvocellular portion - X nucleus X     

Topographic organization of the auditory thalamocortical system in the albino rat

Summary The organization of the auditory thalamocortical connections was studied in rats. Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin following injections into parietal, occipital and temporal cortex was used. The medial geniculate body, the suprageniculate, the lateral part of the nucleus posterior thalami, the posterior part of the nucleus lateralis thalami, and the nucleus ventroposterior project to the investigated part of the neocortex. Corresponding to different patterns of labeling, five areas of auditory neocortex were distinguished: 1. The rostral area is innervated by neurons of the nucleus ventroposterior, the lateral part of the nucleus posterior thalami, and the medial division of the medial geniculate body. 2. The dorsal area is innervated by neurons of the suprageniculate, the posterior part of the nucleus lateralis thalami and the rostral region of the dorsal division of the medial geniculate body. 3. The caudal area is innervated by neurons of the posterior part of the nucleus lateralis thalami, the suprageniculate, the medial division, the caudal region of the dorsal division and the ventrolateral nucleus of the medial geniculate body. 4. The ventral area is innervated by neurons of the suprageniculate, the medial division, the caudal region of the dorsal division, and the ventrolateral nucleus of the medial geniculate body. 5. The core area of the temporal cortex is exclusively connected to the caudal region of the medial division and the ventral division of the medial geniculate body.The findings of the present study indicate topographic organizations of the ventral division of the medial geniculate body and of the corea area. Four segments (a-d) of the ventral division each show a different set of topographic axes. They correspond to sets of topographic axes in the core area of the auditory cortex. These topographies characterize the segments which are each exclusively connected to one of the four fields of the core area.Abbreviations AC Auditory Cortex - c Caudal - d Dorsal - FR Fissura rhinalis, Rhinal Fissure - l Lateral - LTP Nucleus lateralis thalami, pars posterior - m Medial - MGB Medial geniculate body - MGBd Medial geniculate body, dorsal division - MGBm Medial geniculate body, medial division - MGBmc Medial geniculate body, caudal third of MGBm - MGBv Medial geniculate body, ventral division - MGBvl Medial geniculate body, ventrolateral nucleus - NPT Nucleus posterior thalami, pars lateralis - r Rostral - SG Suprageniculatum - VP Nucleus ventroposterior     

大鼠下丘的非听性传出投射

为了全面了解大白鼠下丘的非听性传出投射及其起源细胞在下丘的分布情况,作者分别向下丘、丘脑和延髓注入WGA-HRP,作顺行或逆行追踪研究,结果如下: 下丘的非听性传出投射分布较广,在间脑和脑干终止于12个核团和地区,包括同侧的桥核背外侧部、臂旁外侧核、中脑中央灰质、中脑外侧被盖核、上丘联合核、顶盖前区、丘脑网状核、膝上核、丘脑后核、丘脑腹核、未定带和对侧楔束核的背外侧部。上述非听性传出投射的起源细胞分布于下丘除中央核以外的其他亚核。     

The vestibulothalamic projections in the cat studied by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase

Summary Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected or iontophoretically ejected in various thalamic nuclei in 63 adult cats. In 11 other animals HRP was deposited outside the thalamic territory. The number and distribution of labelled cells within the vestibular nuclear complex (VC) were mapped in each case. To a varying degree all subgroups of VC appear to contribute to the vestibulothalamic projections. Such fibres are distributed to several thalamic areas. From the present investigation it appears that generally speaking, there exist three distinct vestibulothalamic pathways with regard to origin as well as to site of termination of the fibres. One projection appears to originate mainly in caudal parts of the medial (M) and descending (D) vestibular nuclei and in cell group z. This pathway terminates chiefly in the contralateral medial part of the posterior nucleus of the thalamus (POm) including the magnocellular part of the medial geniculate body (Mgmc), the ventrobasal complex (VB) and the area of the ventral lateral nucleus (VL) bordering on VB. A second projection originates mainly in the superior vestibular nucleus (S) and in cell group y and terminates mainly in the contralateral nucleus centralis lateralis (CL) and the adjoining nucleus paracentralis (Pc). A third, more modest, pathway originates chiefly in the middle M and D, with a minor contribution from S and cell group y, and terminates in the contralateral ventral nucleus of the lateral geniculate body (GLV). There is some degree of overlap between the origin of these three vestibulothalamic pathways.Abbreviations B.c. brachium conjunctivum - CeM nucleus centralis medialis thalami - CL nucleus centralis lateralis thalami - CM nucleus centrum medianum - D nucleus vestibularis descendons - f cell group f - g cell group g - GLD corpus geniculatum laterale dorsalis - GLV corpus geniculatum laterale ventralis - i.e. nucleus intercalatus - L nucleus vestibularis lateralis - LD nucleus lateralis dorsalis thalami - LIM lamina medullaris interna - Lim nucleus limitans - LP nucleus lateralis posterior thalami - M nucleus vestibularis medialis - MD nucleus medialis dorsalis thalami - MGmc corpus geniculatum mediale, pars magnocellularis - MGp corpus geniculatum mediale, pars principalis - N.cu.e. nucleus cuneatus externus - N.f.c. nucleus fasciculi cuneati - N.mes. V nucleus mesencephalicus nervi trigemini - NR nucleus ruber - N.tr.s. nucleus tractus solitarius - N. VII nervus facialis - N. VIII nervus statoacusticus - PC pedunculus cerebri - Pc nucleus paracentralis thalami - Pf nucleus parafascicularis - p.h. nucleus prepositus hypoglossi - PO posterior thalamic group - PO1 lateral part of PO - POm medial part of PO - Prt nucleus pretectalis - Pul pulvinar - R nucleus reticularis thalami - S nucleus vestibularis superior - Sg nucleus suprageniculatus - SN substantia nigra - Sv nucleus supravestibularis - Tr.s. tractus solitarius - VA nucleus ventralis anterior thalami - VL nucleus ventralis lateralis thalami - VPL nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis - VPL1 lateral part of VPL - VPLm medial part of VPL - VPM nucleus ventralis posterior medialis - x cell group x - y cell group y - z cell group z - V nucleus motorius nerve trigemini - X nucleus dorsalis nerve vagi - XII nucleus nervi hypoglossi     

Effects of lesions of the nucleus of the optic tract on optokinetic nystagmus and after-nystagmus in the monkey

Summary 1. The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the dorsal terminal nucleus (DTN) of the accessory optic system were lesioned electrolytically or with kainic acid in rhesus monkeys. When lesions involved NOT and DTN, peak velocities of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) with slow phases toward the side of the lesion were reduced, and optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) was reduced or abolished. The jump in slow phase eye velocity at the onset of OKN was smaller in most animals, but was not lost. Initially, there was spontaneous nystagmus with contralateral slow phases. OKN and OKAN with contralateral slow phases were unaffected. 2. Damage to adjacent regions had no effect on OKN or OKAN with two exceptions: 1. A vascular lesion in the MRF, medial to NOT and adjacent to the central gray matter, caused a transient loss of the initial jump in OKN. The slow rise in slow phase velocity was prolonged, but the gain of OKAN was unaffected. There was no effect after a kainic acid lesion in this region in another animal. 2. Lesions of the fiber tract in the pulvinar that inputs to the brachium of the superior colliculus caused a transient reduction in the buildup and peak velocity of OKN and OKAN. 3. In terms of a previous model (Cohen et al. 1977; Waespe et al. 1983), the findings suggest that the indirect pathway that activates the velocity storage integrator in the vestibular system to produce the slow rise in ipsilateral OKN and OKAN, lies in NOT and DTN. Activity for the rapid rise in OKN, carried in the direct pathway, is probably transmitted to the pontine nuclei and flocculus via an anatomically separate fiber path-way that lies in the MRF. A fiber tract in the pulvinar that inputs to the brachium of the superior colliculus appears to carry activity related to retinal slip from the visual cortex to NOT and DTN.Abbreviations used in Figures BIC brachium of the inferior colliculus - BSC brachium of the superior colliculus - C caudate nucleus - CG central gray - CL Centralis lateralis - dbc decussation of the brachium conjunctivum - DTN dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system - IC inferior colliculus - Hb habenular nucleus - hc habenular commissure - LD lateralis dorsalis - LGn lateral geniculate nucleus - MD medialis dorsalis - MGn medial geniculate nucleus - MLF median longitudinal fasciculus - MRF mesencephalic reticular formation - cMRF central mesencephalic reticular formation - NL nucleus limitans - NLL nucleus of the lateral lemniscus - NOT nucleus of the optic tract - PB parabigeminal nucleus - pc posterior commissure - Pi pineal gland - PON pretectal olivary nucleus - Pt pretectum - Pulv pulvinar - R nucleus reticularis - RN red nucleus - RpN raphe nucleus - RTP nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis - SC superior colliculus - SCpit superior cerebellar peduncle - VPL ventralis postero-lateralis - VPM ventralis posteromedialis - III oculomotor nucleus - IV trochlear nucleus - IVn trochlear nerve - Vm mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus     

Contralateral corticofugal projections to cat visual thalamus

Summary Contralateral corticofugal projections from visual cortical areas to thalamic nuclei were demonstrated in the cat using anterograde transport of tritiated proline. Thalamic nuclei receiving projections from contralateral visual cortex include both subdivisions of the lateral-posterior nucleus, the posterior nucleus of Rioch, and the posterior nuclear complex.Abbreviations BIC brachium of the inferior colliculus - BN nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus - BSC brachium of the superior colliculus - C dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, C laminae - CG central gray matter - D nucleus of Darkschewitz - FR fasciculus retroflexus - FTC central tegmental field - H habenula - IPN interpeduncular nucleus - LGNd dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, A laminae - LGNv ventral lateral geniculate nucleus - LP lateral posterior complex - LPi interjacent division of lateral posterior complex - LPl lateral division of lateral posterior complex - LPm medial division of lateral posterior complex - M mammillary body - MGM magnocellular division of medial geniculate nucleus - MGN medial geniculate nucleus - MGP parvocellular division of medial geniculate nucleus - MIN medial interlaminar division of lateral geniculate nucleus - MML medial medullary lamina - NOT nucleus of the optic tract - OT optic tract - P cerebral peduncle - PA anterior pretectal nucleus - PC nucleus of the posterior commissure - PM medial pretectal nucleus - PO posterior nuclear group - PoC posterior commissure - POi intermediate division of posterior nuclear complex - POL pretectal olivary nucleus - POm medial division of posterior nuclear complex - PPT posterior pretectal nucleus - PUL pulvinar - RN red nucleus - RNR posterior nucleus of Rioch - SG suprageniculate nucleus - SGI stratum griseum intermedium of superior colliculus - SGP stratum griseum profundum of superior colliculus - SCSl lower division of stratum griseum superficiale of superior colliculus - SGSu upper division of stratum griseum superficiale of superior colliculus - SN substantia nigra - SO stratum opticum of superior colliculus - TC tectal commissure - III III nerve - IIIN nucleus of III nerve     

GABAergic neurons comprise a major cell type in rodent visual relay nuclei: an immunocytochemical study of pretectal and accessory optic nuclei

Summary The enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has been localized in sections of rodent brains (gerbil, rat) using conventional immunocytochemical techniques. Our findings demonstrate that large numbers of GAD-positive neurons and axon terminals (puncta) are present in the visual relay nuclei of the pretectum and the accessory optic system. The areas of highest density of these neurons are in the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) of the pretectum, the dorsal and lateral terminal accessory optic nuclei (DTN, LTN), the ventral and dorsal subdivisions of the medial terminal accessory optic nucleus (MTNv, MTNd), and the interstitial nucleus of the posterior fibers of the superior fasciculus (inSFp). The findings indicate that 27% of the NOT neurons are GAD-positive and that these neurons are distributed over all of the NOT except the most superficial portion of the NOT caudally. The GAD-positive neurons of the NOT are statistically smaller (65.9 m²) than the total population of neurons of the NOT (84.3 [j,m2) but are otherwise indistinguishable in shape from the total neuron population. The other visual relay nuclei that have been analyzed (DTN, LTN, MTNv, MTNd, inSFp) are similar in that from 21% to 31% of their neurons are GAD-positive; these neurons are smaller in diameter and are more spherical than the total populations of neurons. The data further show that a large proportion of the neurons in these visual relay nuclei are contacted by GAD-positive axon terminals. It is estimated that approximately one-half of the neurons of the NOT and the terminal accessory optic nuclei receive a strong GABAergic input and have been called GAD-recipient neurons. Further, the morphology of the GAD-positive neurons combined with their similar distribution to the GAD-recipient neurons suggest that many of these neurons are acting as GABAergic, local circuit neurons. On the other hand, the large number of GAD-positive neurons in the NOT and MTN (20–30%) in relation to estimates of projection neurons (75%) presents the possibility that some may in fact be projection neurons. The overall findings provide morphological evidence which supports the general conclusion that GABAergic neurons play a significant role in modulating the output of the visually related NOT and terminal accessory optic nuclei.Abbreviations to Figures A Cerebral aqueduct - CP Posterior commissure - DK Nucleus of Darkschewitsch - DMN Deep mesencephalic nucleus - DTN Dorsal terminal nucleus, accessory optic system - HITr Habenulointerpeduncular tract - IGL Intergeniculate leaflet - INC Interstitial nucleus of Cajal - inSFp Interstitial nucleus, superior fasciculus, posterior fibers - LGNd Dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus - LGNv Ventral posterior nucleus - LP Lateral posterior nucleus - LTN Lateral terminal nucleus, accessory optic system - MB Mammillary body - MGN Medial geniculate nucleus - ML Medial lemniscus - MTNd Medial terminal nucleus, dorsal subdivision, accessory optic system - MTNv Medial terminal nucleus, ventral subdivision, accessory optic system - NOT Nucleus of the optic tract - NPC Nucleus of posterior commissure - OT Optic tract - PA Anterior pretectal nucleus - PAG Periaqueductal gray - pbp Nucleus parabrachialis pigmentosus - pC Cerebral peduncle - PM Medial pretectal nucleus - pn Nucleus paranigralis - PO Pretectal olivary nucleus - pp Posterior pretectal nucleus - PPN Peripeduncular nucleus - RNm Magnocellular division, red nucleus - RNp Parvocellular division, red nucleus - SC Superior colliculus - SGP Stratum griseum profundus, superior colliculus - SGS Stratum griseum superficiale, superior colliculus - SGM Stratum griseum medium, superior colliculus - SNc Substantia nigra, pars compacta - SNr Substantia nigra, pars reticulata - SO Stratum opticum, superior colliculus - VB Ventrobasal complex - ZI Zona incerta - 3N Oculomotor nerve, root fibers - 3V Third ventricle Supported by USPHS grants EY03642, NS15669, NS20228, EY03018, and NS15321. C.E.R. is the recipient of a Klingenstein Fellowship in the Neurosciences; R.H.I.B. is a Research Career Development Fellow of the National Eye Institute; and J.H.F. is a Research Career Development Fellow of the National Institutes of Health     

The thalamic connections with medial area 6 (supplementary motor cortex) in the monkey (macaca fascicularis)

Summary 1. The interrelationship of medial area 6 (supplementary motor area) with the thalamus was investigated by means of anterograde and retrograde tracing methods. Nine monkeys were prepared for autoradiography or histochemistry with the marker HRP conjugated to the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. Three of the monkeys received injections into the precentral cortex for comparison. 2. Previous observations were confirmed that the thalamic relays to the motor areas are organized as crescent-shaped lamellae which transgress cytoarchitectonic boundaries. The thalamic VA-VL complex receiving fibres from areas 4 and medial area 6 also sends fibres to these same areas. 3. The thalamic relay to medial area 6 comprised the following subdivisions: VLo, VLc, area X of Olszewski, VLm and, to a smaller extent VA. 4. Labeling (mostly anterograde only) was also prominent in some thalamic compartments outside the motor thalamus: R, CL, CM-Pf, MD, LP, PULo. 5. It was noted that rostral and caudal injections into the medial area 6 resulted in different thalamic labeling: The rostral portion was found to be related mainly with VApc, area X and VLc, the central portion with VLo, and the caudal portion with VLc/VLo. This structural inhomogeneity may reflect also a functional rostro-caudal differentiation of the medial area 6. 6. The thalamic territory projecting to the precentral cortex is separate from the above relay and includes principally VPLo. 7. The present anatomical labeling study is in agreement with the conclusion of Schell and Strick (1984) that the SMA, especially its central portion, is an important target of basal ganglia outflow via the thalamic relay VLo. In addition consistent labeling was also found in thalamic subdivisions (area X, VLc) which had been found to receive cerebellar fibres.Abbreviations AD Nucleus anterior dorsalis - AM Nucleus anterior medialis - AV Nucleus anterior ventralis - ARG Autoradiography - CL Nucleus centralis lateralis - CM Centre median nucleus - Comm. post. Commissura posterior - CLS Nucleus centralis superior lateralis - For Fornix - GM Nucleus geniculatus medialis - In p.c. Nucleus interstitialis of the posterior commissure - LD Nucleus lateralis dorsalis - Li Nucleus limitans - LP Nucleus lateralis posterior - MDmc Nucleus medialis dorsalis, pars magnocellularis - MDmf Nucleus medialis dorsalis, pars multiformis - MDpc Nucleus medialis dorsalis, pars parvocellularis - NRmc Nucleus ruber magnocellularis - NRpc Nucleus ruber parvocellularis - Pcn Nucleus paracentralis - Pf Nucleus parafascicularis - Pul.i. Nucleus pulvinaris inferior - Pul.l. Nucleus pulvinaris lateralis - Pul.m. Nucleus pulvinaris medialis - Pul.o. Nucleus pulvinaris oralis - R Nucleus reticularis thalami - SMA Supplementary motor area - STh Nucleus subthalamicus - VAmc Nucleus ventralis anterior, pars magnocellularis - VApc Nucleus ventralis anterior, pars parvocellularis - VLc Nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars caudalis - VLm Nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars medialis - VLo Nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars oralis - VLps Nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars postrema; - VPI Nucleus ventralis posterior inferior - VPLo Nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis, pars oralis - VPM Nucleus ventralis posterior medialis - WGA-HRP Horseradish peroxidase conjugated to the lectin wheat germ agglutinin; - X Area X - ZI Zona incerta     

An analysis of potentially converging inputs to the rostral ventral thalamic nuclei of the cat

Summary Potentially convergent inputs to cerebellar-receiving and basal ganglia-receiving areas of the thalamus were identified using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing techniques. HRP was deposited iontophoretically into the ventroanterior (VA), ventromedial (VM), and ventrolateral (VL) thalamic nuclei in the cat. The relative numbers of labeled neurons in the basal ganglia and the cerebellar nuclei were used to assess the extent to which the injection was in cerebellar-receiving or basal ganglia-receiving portions of thalamus. The rostral pole of VA showed reciprocal connections with prefrontal portions of the cerebral cortex. Only the basal ganglia and the hypothalamus provided non-thalamic input to modulate these cortico-thalamo-cortical loops. In VM, there were reciprocal connections with prefrontal, premotor, and insular areas of the cerebral cortex. The basal ganglia (especially the substantia nigra), and to a lesser extent, the posterior and ventral portions of the deep cerebellar nuclei, provided input to VM and may modulate these corticothalamo-cortical loops. The premotor cortical areas connected to VM include those associated with eye movements, and afferents from the superior colliculus, a region of documented importance in oculomotor control, also were labeled by injections into VM. The dorsolateral portion of the VA-VL complex primarily showed reciprocal connections with the medial premotor (area 6) cortex. Basal ganglia and cerebellar afferents both may modulate this cortico-thalamo-cortical loop, although they do not necessarily converge on the same thalamic neurons. The cerebellar input to dorsolateral VA-VL was from posterior and ventral portions of the cerebellar nuclei, and the major potential brainstem afferents to this region of thalamus were from the pretectum. Mid- and caudo-lateral portions of VL had reciprocal connections with primary motor cortex (area 4). The dorsal and anterior portions of the cerebellar nuclei had a dominant input to this corticothalamo-cortical loop. Potentially converging brainstem afferents to this portion of VL were from the pretectum, especially pretectal areas to which somatosensory afferents project.List of Abbreviations AC central amygdaloid nucleus - AL lateral amygdaloid nucleus - AM anteromedial thalamic nucleus - AV anteroventral thalamic nucleus - BC brachium conjunctivum - BIC brachium of the inferior colliculus - Cd caudate nucleus - CL centrolateral thalamic nucleus - CM centre median nucleus - CP cerebral peduncle - CUN cuneate nucleus - DBC decussation of the brachium conjunctivum - DR dorsal raphe nuclei - EC external cuneate nucleus - ENTO entopeduncular nucleus - FN fastigial nucleus - FX fornix - GP globus pallidus - GR gracile nucleus - IC internal capsule - ICP inferior cerebellar peduncle - IP interpeduncular nucleus - IVN inferior vestibular nucleus - LD lateral dorsal thalamic nucleus - LGN lateral geniculate nucleus - LH lateral hypothalamus - LP lateral posterior thalamic complex - LRN lateral reticular nucleus - LVN lateral vestibular nucleus - MB mammillary body - MD mediodorsal thalamic nucleus - MG medial geniculate nucleus - ML medial lemniscus - MLF medial lengitudinal fasciculus - MT mammillothalamic tract - MVN medial vestibular nucleus - NDBB nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca - NIA anterior nucleus interpositus - NIP posterior nucleus interpositus - OD optic decussation - OT optic tract - PAC paracentral thalamic nucleus - PPN pedunculopontine region - PRO gyrus proreus - PRT pretectal region - PT pyramidal tract - PTA anterior pretectal region - PTM medial pretectal region - PTO olivary pretectal nucleus - PTP poterior pretectal region - Pul pulvinar nucleus - Put putamen - RF reticular formation - RN red nucleus - Rt reticular complex of the thalamus - S solitary tract - SCi superior colliculus, intermediate gray - SN substantia nigra - ST subthalamic nucleus - VA ventroanterior thalamic nucleus - VB ventrobasal complex - VL ventrolateral thalamic nucleus - VM ventromedial thalamic nucleus - III oculomotor nucleus - IIIn oculomotor nerve - 5S spinal trigeminal nucleus - 5T spinal trigeminal tract - VII facial nucleus     

大鼠上丘的传出投射——ARG法和WGA-HRP法研究

本实验将~3H-Leucine 或 WGA-HRP 定位注(导)入大鼠一侧上丘内,观察了上丘传出纤维的终止部位。上丘浅层的传出纤维下行终止于二叠体旁核(以同侧核的背、腹群为主)、同侧桥核的背外侧部;其上行投射终止于内侧膝状体、膝上核、顶盖前区后核、丘脑外侧后核(以上均为两侧性,以同侧为主)、同侧的内及外侧视束核和外侧膝状体的背侧及腹侧核。另外,在两侧视束和视束交叉处均有标记颗粒。上丘中、深层的传出纤维终止于同侧中央灰质、Darkschewitsch 核、Cajal 中介核、楔形核以及对侧上丘;上行终止于内测膝状体,膝上核、顶盖前区前核、丘脑外侧后核(以上均为两侧性,以同侧为主)、束旁核、未定带、丘脑腹侧核(以上均为同侧);下行终止于同侧的有二叠体旁区和二叠体旁核,桥核的背外侧部、下丘外侧部、桥脑和延髓网状结构、下橄榄核的外侧部;终止于对侧的有二叠体旁核、桥脑和延髓网状结构内侧部、下橄榄核的内侧副核、脊髓颈段前角。     

Topographical projections from the posterior thalamic regions to the striatum in the cat,with reference to possible tecto-thalamo-striatal connections

Summary Projections from the posterior thalamic regions to the striatum were studied in the cat by the anterograde tracing method after injecting wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (WGA-HRP) into the caudalmost regions of the lateroposterior thalamic nucleus (caudal LP), suprageniculate nucleus (Sg) and magnocellular division of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGm). The results were further confirmed by the retrograde tracing method after injecting WGA-HRP into the regions of the caudate nucleus (Cd) and putamen (Put) where afferent fibers from the caudal LP, Sg and MGm were distributed. Fibers from the MGm, Sg or caudal LP were distributed mainly in the medial, middle or lateral part of the caudal half of the putamen (caudal Put), respectively. Although there was a considerable overlap, thalamostriatal fibers from the caudal LP terminated more caudally than those from the MGm. On the other hand, thalamocaudate fibers from the MGm, Sg and lateral part of the caudal LP overlapped with each other in the ventrolateral part of the caudal half of the caudate nucleus (caudal Cd). Fibers from the medial part of the caudal LP were distributed in the ventral part of the caudal Cd. In the superior colliculus (SC) of the cats with WGA-HRP injections in the caudal LP, retrogradely labeled neuronal cell bodies were mainly seen ipsilaterally in the superficial SC layer, and simultaneously, anterogradely labeled axon terminals were observed in the striatum. On the other hand, when WGA-HRP was injected into the Sg or MGm, labeled SC neurons were mainly located in the intermediate and deep SC layers. Thus, ascending impulses from the superficial SC layer may possibly be conveyed ipsilaterally via the caudal LP to the ventral and ventrolateral parts of the caudal Cd and the lateral part of the caudal Put, whereas those from the intermediate and deep SC layers may be relayed via the Sg and/or MGm to the ventrolateral part of the caudal Cd and the middle and medial parts of the caudal Put.Abbreviations AC anterior commissure - Am amygdaloid nucleus - Cd caudate nucleus - Ce centromedial nucleus - CL centrolateral nucleus - Cl claustrum - CM-Pf centre médian-parafascicular complex - CP cerebral peduncle - d deep SC layer - EC external capsule - Ep entopeduncular nucleus - GP globus pallidus - i intermediate SC layer - IC internal capsule - Ip interpeduncular nucleus - LG lateral geniculate nucleus - LP lateroposterior nucleus - MD mediodorsal nucleus - MG medial geniculate nucleus - MGm magnocellular division of MG - MGp principal division of MG - NBIC nucleus of brachium of inferior colliculus - O oculomotor nucleus - OT optic tract - Pom medial division of posterior group of thalamus - Pt pretectum - Pul pulvinar nucleus - Put putamen - Pv paraventricular nucleus of thalamus - R reticular nucleus of thalamus - Rh rhomboid nucleus - RN red nucleus - s superficial SC layer - SC superior colliculus - Sg suprageniculate nucleus - SN substantia nigra - SNpc pars compacta of SN - SNpr pars reticulata of SN - V lateral ventricle - VA ventroanterior nucleus - VL ventrolateral nucleus - VM ventromedial nucleus - WGA-HRP wheat germ agglutinin-HRP conjugate     

The termination of the spinothalamic tract in the cat an experimental study with silver impregnation methods

Summary The termination of the spinothalamic tract (STT) in the cat has been studied light microscopically in Fink-Heimer and Nauta impregnated sections. Following lesions of the STT at various rostrocaudal levels of the spinal cord the degenerating fibres in the thalamus and subthalamus were mapped, mainly in transverse sections. The cervicothalamic tract was not injured by the lesions.The spinothalamic fibres enter the diencephalon through the mesencephalic reticular formation and terminate in the following regions: the medial portion of the magnocellular part of the medial geniculate body (MGmc), the ventrolateral portion of the medial part of the posterior nuclear complex (PO_m), the caudolateral and medial parts of the zona incerta (ZI), the nucleus centralis medialis (CeM), the nucleus parafascicularis (Pf), the lateral part of the nucleus centralis lateralis (CL), the medial and rostrolateral parts of the nucleus ventralis lateralis (VL). To reach these regions the fibres pass through the nucleus centrum medianum (CM), the nucleus subparafascicularis (SPf) and the nucleus paracentralis (Pc). The fibres that terminate in the VL pass through Forel's field H₁ and the external medullated lamina (EML). Conclusive results were not obtained concerning a termination in the CM. The spinothalamic fibres do not pass through nor terminate in the nucleus ventralis posterolateralis (VPL) and the nucleus reticularis (R). The VPL, defined as that portion of the ventral thalamus that receives terminal fibres from the dorsal column nuclei, has been found to extend rostrally only as far as Horsley-Clarke level anterior 10.5. The results strongly support the view that all the spinothalamic fibres terminate ipsilateral to their course in the ventral quadrant of the spinal cord. No signs of a somatotopical organization of the termination of the STT were found.List of Abbreviations Cd nucleus caudatus - CeM nucleus centralis medialis - CG circumaqueductal gray substance - CL nucleus centralis lateralis thalami - CM nucleus centrum medianum thalami - CP commissura posterior - CTT cervicothalamic tract - EML external medullated lamina - H₁ Forel's field H₁ - HP tractus habenulopeduncularis - LCN nucleus cervicalis lateralis - LG corpus geniculatum laterale - LP nucleus lateralis posterior thalami - MD nucleus medialis dorsalis thalami - MG corpus geniculatum mediale - MGmc corpus geniculatum mediale, pars magnocellularis - MGp corpus geniculatum mediale, pars principalis - ML medial lemniscus - MRF mesencephalic reticular formation - OT optic tract - Pc nucleus paracentralis thalami - Pf nucleus parafascicularis thalami - PO posterior group of thalamic nuclei - PO₁ lateral part of PO - PO_m medial part of PO - R nucleus reticularis thalami - SG nucleus suprageniculatus - STT spinothalamic tract - VA nucleus ventralis anterior - VL nucleus ventralis lateralis thalami - VM nucleus ventralis medialis thalami - VPI nucleus ventralis posterior inferior - VPL nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis thalami (VPL₁ + VPL_m) - VPL₁ lateral part of VPL - VPL_m medial part of VPL - VPM nucleus ventralis posterior medialis thalami - VPMpc parvocellular part of VPM - ZI zona incerta     

Topography and receptive field organization of the body midline representation in the ventrobasal complex of the cat

Summary The topography and receptive field (RF) organization of neurones in the trunk zone of the thalamic ventrobasal complex (VB) projecting to the homologous zone of the ipsilateral first somatosensory area (SI) were studied in the cat by performing experiments of retrograde neuronal tracing and microelectrode recording. Punctate cortical injections of small amounts of either horseradish peroxidase or fluorescent tracers (Evans Blue, Nuclear Yellow and Fast Blue) retrogradely labelled cell aggregates lying in the dorsal half of a VB region interposed between subnucleus VPL1 and VPLm. Aggregates of labelled cells were narrow in dorsoventral and mediolateral extent and elongated rostrocaudally. The distribution of VB cells projecting to the cortical subareas representing the dorsal midline, lateral trunk and ventral midline of the body in area SI, was established by injecting a different fluorescent marker into a physiologically defined site in each subarea. These injections resulted in labelling of three different cell aggregates located in topographically distinct regions of the VB trunk zone. Each aggregate of labelled cells only projected to one cortical subarea.Microelectrode analysis of cell populations of the VB trunk zone showed that neurones lying in regions projecting to dorsal and ventral midline zones of area SI had bilateral RFs, straddling the dorsal and the ventral midline of the body respectively. Neurones lying in the region projecting to the lateral trunk representation of area SI had contralateral RFs located on the lateral surface of the trunk.The results suggest that the detailed topography of the trunk map in the area SI and the bilaterality of the cortical representation of the body midlines, described in previous experiments, is imposed by the thalamocortical input from the VB.Abbreviations Ans Ansate sulcus - AV Nucleus anterior ventralis - Cd Nucleus caudatus - Ci Capsula interna - CL Nucleus centralis lateralis - CM Nucleus centrum medianum - Cru Cruciate sulcus - EB Evans blue - Ecsa Anterior ectosylvian sulcus - FB Fast blue - GL Nucleus geniculatus lateralis - Hb Nucleus habenularis - HRP Horseradish peroxidase - Lat Lateralis sulcus - LD Nucleus lateralis dorsalis - LP Nucleus lateralis posterior - MD Nucleus medialis dorsalis - NY Nuclear yellow - PC Nucleus paracentralis - Ped Pedunculus cerebri - PO Posterior thalamic group - POl Lateral division of the posterior thalamic group - POm Medial division of the posterior thalamic group - Pul Pulvinar - Psg Posterior sygmoid gyrus - R Nucleus reticularis thalami - Sups Suprasylvian sulcus - TO Tractus opticus - VA Nucleus ventralis anterior - VB Ventrobasal complex - VL Nucleus ventralis lateralis - VM Nucleus ventralis medialis - VPL1 Nucleus ventralis posterolateralis, lateral division - VPLm Nucleus ventralis posterolateralis, medial division Supported in part by funds granted by Italian Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione     

Note on the tonotopic organization in the cat medial geniculate body: influence of sampling of units

Summary The tonotopic organization observed in the present study for the pars lateralis (LV) of the medial geniculate body (MGB) in nitrous oxide anesthetized cats is generally consistent with that previously reported under barbiturate anesthesia. The present data, however, provide evidence for local deviations in characteristic frequency (CF) using appropriate sampling procedures of single units. Although the majority of pairs of units recorded simultaneously with the same microelectrode showed comparable CFs, a few pairs of such neighbouring units displayed CF disparities of up to 1.5 octaves. In addition, some units characterized by an elevated threshold had a CF deviating significantly from the general CF progression observed for the majority of units having low thresholds. This study points out the influence of the sampling procedure on the quality of the tonotopic organization observed in the MGB in addition to a possible effect of the level of anesthesia.Abbreviations BIC brachium of the inferior colliculus - BIN nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus - CF characteristic frequency - D dorsal nucleus of the dorsal division of the MGB - DD deep dorsal nucleus of the dorsal division of the MGB - EL electrode track - LGN lateral geniculate nucleus - LV pars lateralis of the ventral division of the MGB - M pars magnocellularis of the medial division of the MGB - MGB medial geniculate body - OV pars ovoidea of the ventral division of the MGB - SG suprageniculate nucleus of the dorsal division of the MGB     

Gamma-aminobutyrate-like immunoreactivity in the thalamus of the cat

Serial sections of the cat's thalamus were incubated with a purified antiserum raised against gamma-aminobutyric acid conjugated to bovine serum albumin by distilled glutaraldehyde. This serum has been extensively characterized and appears to react selectively with fixed gamma-aminobutyric acid in brain tissue treated with glutaraldehyde. Adjoining sections were stained with thionin and served as invaluable guides for a correct evaluation of the immunolabelling pattern. In the neuropil the intensity of the immunostaining varies considerably between thalamic nuclei and even between nuclear subdivisions. The neuropil staining appears particularly dense in the nuclei parataenialis, periventricularis, centralis medialis, reuniens, rhomboideus, habenularis lateralis, centrum medianum, parafascicularis, subparafascicularis, submedius, dorsal and ventral parts of the lateral geniculate body, the dorsal part of the medial geniculate body, the posterior complex, suprageniculate nucleus, pulvinar and parts of the lateral posterior nucleus. The pulvinar/lateralis posterior complex shows a particularly well-differentiated staining pattern which closely matches Updyke's [Updyke (1983) J. comp. Neurol. 219, 143-181] parcellation of this region. In several thalamic nuclei or subareas--and notably in those relay nuclei which are known to project upon non-primary sensory cortical areas--the immunostained neuropil is characterized by many puncta encircling an unstained profile. With few exceptions all thalamic nuclei displayed immunoreactive nerve cell bodies. Several examples were found of a mismatch between the number of such cells and the staining intensity of the neuropil. Thus the nuclei periventricularis, parafascicularis, subparafascicularis, parataenialis, limitans and centrum medianum although being very rich in neuropil staining have practically no immunostained perikarya. Rough estimates were made of the size and the proportion of gamma-aminobutyric acid labelled neurons in all major--and some minor--thalamic nuclei and their subdivisions. In some thalamic nuclei, notably the nuclei reticularis, anterior dorsalis, lateralis dorsalis, centralis lateralis, ventralis posterior and the dorsal lateral geniculate body, the population of immunoreactive neurons is distinctly heterogeneous with regard to soma size. The findings are discussed with regard to previous immunocytochemical studies of the distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid and its synthesizing enzyme in the thalamus. Particular emphasis is put on the great species differences which appear to exist in this respect.     

Topographical and topological organization of the thalamocortical projection to the striate and prestriate cortex in the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Summary In eleven hemispheres of nine marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), we have investigated the thalamo-cortical organization of the projections from the pulvinar to the striate and prestriate cortex. In each experiment, single or multiple injections of various retrograde fluorescent tracers were injected into adjacent regions or areas. In two experiments, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the lateral pulvinar, respectively. The results show that the thalamo-cortical projection from LGN to striate cortex and from pulvinar to the prestriate cortex are similarly organized, but the geniculo-striate projection is more precise than the pulvinar-prestriate projection. The pulvinar-prestriate projection is topographically organized and preserves topological neighbourhood relations. Projection zones to the various visual areas are concentrically wrapped around each other. The projection zone to area 18 constitutes a central core region. It begins ventro-laterally in PuL where the pulvinar is in contact with the LGN. This contact zone we called the hilus region of the pulvinar. The area 18-projection zone stretches as a central cone into the posterior pulvinar through PuL and into PuM. It is surrounded by the projection zone to the posterior belt of area 19 and this in turn is surrounded by the projection zone to the anterior belt of area 19. The projection zones to area 19 are then surrounded medially and dorsally by zones projectiong to the temporal and parietal association cortex, respectively. The projection zone to area MT is located medio-ventrally in the posterior pulvinar (PuIP and surrounding nuclei) and coincides with a densely myelinated region. Area 17 also receives input from the pulvinar but probably predominantly in the region of the central visual field. The pulvinar zone projecting to area 17 is located ventrolaterally from the central core region projecting to area 18 and is contiguous laterally with the LGN. If the positions of the vertical and the horizontal meridian in the pulvinar correspond to those in the respective cortical projection zones, a second order visual field representation such as found in area 18, with the horizontal meridian split at an excentricity of about 7–10°, can also be recognized in the pulvinar.Abbreviations A Subcortical nuclei and subnuclei, cf. — Stephan et al. (1980) - AD Nucleus anterior dorsalis thalami - AV Nucleus anterior ventralis thalami - CeD Nucleus centralis dorsalis thalami - CeL Nucleus centralis lateralis thalami - CeMe Centrum medianum thalami - CoS Colliculus superior - FRPO Formatio reticularis pontis, pars oralis - GM Corpus geniculatum mediale - IBCI Nucleus interstitialis brachii colliculi inferioris - LGN Corpus geniculatum laterale dorsale - vLGN Corpus geniculatum laterale ventrale - LD Nucleus lateralis dorsalis thalami - LI Nucleus limitans thalami - LP Nucleus lateralis posterior thalami - MD Nucleus medialis dorsalis thalami - OL Nucleus olivaris superior lateralis - OM Nucleus olivaris superior medialis - Pbg Nucleus parabigeminalis - Pul Pulvinar inferior; PulP Pulvinar inferior posterior - PuL Pulvinar lateralis - PuM Pulvinar medialis - PuO Pulvinar oralis - RT Nucleus reticularis thalami - Sg Nucleus suprageniculatus - VA Nucleus ventralis anterior thalami - VL Nucleus ventralis lateralis thalami - VPL Nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis thalami - VPM Nucleus ventralis posterior medialis thalami - IV Nucleus nervi trochlearis - B Cortical areas and subareas, (after Spatz 1977a; Spatz et al. 1987 Allman and Kaas 1975): - 17 Area striata (V I) - 18 Area 18 (V II) - 19DI Area 19 dorso-intermediate - 19DL Area 19 dorso-lateral - 19DM Area 19 dorso-medial - 19M Area 19 medial - 19V Area 19 ventral - MT Middle temporal area