Distribution of cells projecting to thalamus vs. those projecting to cerebellum in subdivisions of the dorsal column nuclei in raccoons

To learn the distribution of cells projecting to the thalamus, as opposed to the cerebellum, in the mechanosensory nuclei of the dorsal medulla of raccoons, we analyzed the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from the ventrobasal complex of the thalamus and from the cerebellum. We found six nuclear regions projecting heavily to the thalamus with very small projections to the cerebellum: Bischoff's, central cuneate, central gracile, rostral cuneate, rostral gracile nuclei, and cell group z. Two regions showed heavy projections to the cerebellum with no projections to the thalamus: the lateral portion of the external cuneate nucleus and the compact portion of cell group x. Four regions showed more equivalent projections to both target regions: basal cuneate, medial portion of the external cuneate nucleus, medial tongue extension of the external cuneate nucleus, and reticular portion of cell group x. Three more ventral regions were labeled: lateral cervical nucleus from thalamic injections but not from cerebellar injections; central cervical nucleus from cerebellar injections, which crossed the midline, but not from thalamic injections; and lateral reticular nucleus from both target regions. In most medullary regions, most cells project to one target and very few project to the other; we suggest that the cells projecting to the minor target convey samples of the information going to the major target.     

The dorsal column nuclear projections to the nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis thalami and the inferior olive in the cat: an autoradiographic study.

This autoradiographic study demonstrates a topical projection of the dorsal column nuclei to the contralateral nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis thalami and the accessory part of the inferior olive. In contrast to earlier anatomical studies the projections of the gracile nucleus and the internal cuneate nucleus proved to be independent and entirely contralateral. Fibers from the gracile nucleus terminate only in the lateral part of the nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis (VPL1) and from the internal cuneate nucleus only in the medial part of this nucleus (VPLm). Projections of the gracile nucleus to the contralateral inferior olive are restricted to the caudal one-third of the medial accessory olive and the ventrolateral part of the dorsal accessory olive. The internal cuneate nucleus is only connected with the dorsomedial part of the rostral two-thrids of the dorsal accessory olive. Our material does not allow conclusions about projections from the dorsal column nuclei to other thalamic nuclei and about rostrocaudal point to point relationships between the dorsal column nuclei and the thalamus or the inferior olive.     

Spino-bulbar, spino-thalamic and medical lemniscal connections in the American opossum, Didelphis marsupialis virginiana

Projections from the spinal cord and dorsal column nuclei to more rostral levels of the neuraxis were investigated in seventeen adult opossums by the Nauta-Gygax and Fink-Heimer techniques. In all cases with spinal cord lesions a greater number of degenerating fibers distributed to the medulla and pons than to the midbrain and diencephalon. Numerous degenerating fibers ended within the medial reticular formation of the medulla and caudal pons, and within the lateral reticular formation of the rostral pons and midbrain. Degenerating fibers were numerous in the reticular formation following cervical and thoracic lesions, but sparse in specimens with damage restricted to either the lumbar or sacral spinal cord. The dorsal column nuclei received afferent connections from the well known dorsal funicular pathway and, although to a much lesser extent, from the main ventrolateral spinal bundle. Although most of the latter fibers ended in the subnucleus dorsalis and spinal vestibular nucleus, some penetrated into the gracile and cuneate nuclei. Conspicuous terminal degeneration was present within the inferior olivary nucleus following cervical and thoracic lesions, but was lacking in cases of either caudal lumbar or sacral cord lesions. The location of terminal degeneration within the lateral reticular nucleus is dependent upon the level of the lesion in the spinal cord. Degenerating fibers ended within the lateral vestibular nucleus in all cases of spinal cord hemisection, and within the medial portion of the facial nucleus in cases with a lesion rostral to C-4. After cervical and thoracic hemisections terminal fiber degeneration was present within the midbrain tegmentum, the periaqueductal gray, the intercollicular nucleus (Mehler,'69), the posterior thalamic nucleus, the ventrobasal nucleus, the parafascicular nuclei and the caudal nucleus ventralis lateralis. All thalamic nomenclature was taken from Oswaldo-Cruz and Rocha-Miranda, '68. In animals with more caudal lesions, no fiber degeneration was evident within the nucleus ventralis lateralis and so little within the ventrobasal nucleus that it was impossible to ascertain a somatotopic pattern of spinothalamic projections. Lesions of the dorsal column nuclei caused terminal degeneration within the inferior olivary nucleus, the pars lateralis of the nucleus of the inferior colliculus, the zona incerta, the posterior thalamic nucleus, the caudal part of the ventral lateral thalamic nucleus and the ventrobasal nucleus of the thalamus. Diffuse connections with the reticular formation, periaqueductal gray, midbrain tegmentum and the parafascicular complex were also observed. The results from small lesions indicate that the input to the ventrobasal nucleus in the opossum is organized in the typical mammalian fashion.     

Brainstem projections to the rat cuneate nucleus

Neurons in the pontomedullary tegmentum have been proposed as a final common pathway subserving descending inhibition in the dorsal column nuclei. To investigate the anatomical substrate for these descending effects, brainstem projections to the cuneate nucleus of rats were studied with injections of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase. In rats with iontophoretic tracer injections in this nucleus, many labeled neurons were detected near the injection site, especially ventral and caudal to it. Intrinsic reciprocal projections were observed after injections in caudal, middle, or rostral levels of the cuneate nucleus. Neurons were labeled in the red nucleus, in agreement with previous anatomical studies, and also in the trigeminal, vestibular, and cochlear nuclei. An ipsilateral dorsomedial group of neurons was labeled in the upper cervical segments and scattered neurons were also labeled bilaterally near the central canal. Sparse retrograde labeling in the tegmentum was focused in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus and caudal raphe. Consistent with the retrograde experiments, anterograde labeling after pressure injections of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase in the pontomedullary tegmentum was very sparse within the dorsal column nuclei; labeling was dense, however, in the region immediately ventral to these nuclei. These results confirm previous work indicating that the activity of cuneate neurons is modulated by brainstem sensory nuclei. However, it appears that direct projections to the cuneate nucleus from pontine and rostral medullary regions are sparser than previously suggested. The last link of a polysynaptic descending inhibitory pathway may include GABAergic neurons immediately adjacent to the dorsal column nuclei and/or intrinsic to these nuclei.     

Retinofugal and retinopetal projections in the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus

The retinofugal and retinopetal connections in the green sunfish were studied by autoradiographic and horseradish peroxidase methods. All retinofugal fibers decussate in the optic chiasm. Some fibers project to contralateral preoptic and hypothalamic nuclei while others recross to project to the comparable ipsilateral nuclei. Contralaterally, the medial optic tract projects to the periventricular thalamic and pretectal nuclei and, sparsely, to the rostral optic tectum. The dorsal optic tract projects to the parvocellular portion of the superficial pretectal nucleus, the central pretectal nucleus, nucleus corticalis, and the rostral portion of the optic tectum. The ventral optic tract primarily projects to the caudal portion of the optic tectum, giving off fibers in route to innervate various nuclei, including the parvocellular superficial pretectal nucleus and the dorsal and ventral accessory optic nuclei. The axial optic tract projects to the dorsal accessory optic nucleus, the central pretectal nucleus, and the caudal optic tectum. Retinal fibers reach the ipsilateral thalamus, pretectum and other sites via a redecussation through the posterior commissure. From outgroup analysis it is concluded that such redecussating fibers are an independently derived character within actinopterygians and are homoplasous to nondecussating ipsilateral retinal projections in other vertebrates. Neurons retrogradely labeled with horseradish peroxidase were found to form a rostrocaudal column from the olfactory bulb and nerve through the ventral telencephalon to caudal diencephalic levels along the medial aspect of the optic tract. It is possible that all these neurons consist of one population of migrated ganglion cells of the nervus terminalis.     

Cerebellothalamic projections in the rat: An autoradiographic and degeneration study

The purpose of this study was to determine the topographical organization of cerebellothalamic projections in the rat. Following stereotaxic injections of ³H-leucine or electrolytic lesions in the cerebellar nuclei, efferent fibers were observed to emerge from the cerebellum through two discrete routes. Fibers from the fastigial nucleus decussated within the cerebellum, formed the crossed ascending limb of the uncinate fasciculus, ascended in the dorsal part of the midbrain tegmentum, and entered the thalamus. Cerebellothalamic fibers from the interpositus and dentate nuclei coursed in the ipsilateral brachium conjuctivum, decussated in the caudal midbrain, and ascended to the thalamus via the crossed ascending limb of the brachium conjunctivum. Cerebellar terminations were observed in the intralaminar, lateral, and ventral tier thalamic nuclei as well as in the medial dorsal nucleus. Projections to the intralaminar nuclei were more pronounced from the dentate and posterior interpositus than from the anterior interpositus and fastigial nuclei. The lateral thalamic nuclei received a projection from the dentate and posterior interpositus nuclei while the fastigial nucleus projected to the medial dorsal nucleus. Within the rostral ventral tier nuclei fastigiothalamic terminations were localized in the medial parts of the ventral medial and ventral lateral nuclei, whereas dentatothalamic projections were concentrated in the lateral parts of the ventral medial nucleus and the medial half of the ventral lateral nucleus. Terminations from the posterior interpositus nucleus were observed ventrally and laterally within the caudal two-thirds of the ventral medial nucleus and throughout the ventral lateral nucleus, where they were densest in the lateral part of its lateral wing and within the central part of its cap. The anterior interpositus nucleus also projected to the central and lateral parts of the ventral lateral nucleus, but these terminations were considerably less dense than those from the posterior interpositus. A few fibers from the interpositus nuclei terminated in the medial part of the rostral pole of the ventral posterior nucleus. A prominent recrossing of cerebellothalamic fibers from the fastigial, posterior interpositus, and dentate nuclei occurred through the central medial nucleus of the internal medullary lamina. These terminated within the ipsilateral ventral lateral and intralaminar nuclei. These results show that each of the cerebellar nuclei project to the thalamus and that their terminations are topographically organized in the rostral ventral tier nuclei. The clustering of autoradiographic silver grains or terminal degeneration observed in the thalamic nuclei suggests a medial-to-lateral organization of this cerebellothalamic system.     

Brainstem projections to the facial nucleus of the opossum. A study using axonal transport techniques

The horseradish peroxidase and autoradiographic techniques have been used to determine the origin and intranuclear termination of brainstem axons projecting to the facial nucleus of the opossum and to define networks which could be utilized in some oral-facial behaviors. Two regions of the midbrain have dense projections to the facial nucleus. One region is the ventral periaqueductal gray and adjacent interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus which project bilaterally to those areas of the facial nucleus supplying auricular and cervical musculature. A second is the paralemniscal zone of the caudolateral midbrain which innervates the same areas of the contralateral facial nucleus. The red nucleus and/or the adjacent tegmentum send a less dense projection to those regions of the contralateral facial nucleus which innervate buccolabial and zygomatic muscles. The dorsolateral pons (the parabrachial complex, the nucleus locus coeruleus, pars alpha, and the nucleus sensorius n. trigemini, pars dorsalis) projects densely to those areas of the ipsilateral facial nucleus which innervate buccolabial and zygomatic musculature. In contrast, the nucleus reticularis pontis, pars ventralis, projects bilaterally to parts of the facial nucleus supplying auricular and cervical muscles. There was evidence of some rostral to caudal organization in the latter projection. Neurons in medial parts of the lateral reticular formation project bilaterally to the facial nucleus. Those within the nucleus reticularis parvocellularis and the rostral nucleus reticularis medullae oblongatae ventralis innervate areas supplying buccolabial and zygomatic muscles. Neurons in the nucleus reticularis medullae oblongatae ventralis located caudal to the obex favor regions of the facial nuclei which supply auricular and cervical muscles. Neurons in the nucleus reticularis medullae oblongatae dorsalis and lamina V of the medullary and spinal dorsal horns project ipsilaterally to the facial nucleus in a manner suggesting that information from specific cutaneous areas reaches neurons supplying the muscles deep to them. The brainstem-facial connections are discussed in relation to the functionally diverse roles served by the facial nucleus in oral-facial behavior.     

Projections from the red nucleus and surrounding areas to the brainstem and spinal cord in the cat. An HRP and autoradiographical tracing study

HRP injections at the C2, T1 and S1 spinal levels and in the medullary lateral tegmental field revealed that the contralaterally projecting rubro-bulbospinal neurons are located not only in the caudal but also to a certain extent in the rostral red nucleus (RN). These RN projections are somatotopically organized. Neurons projecting to the sacral cord are located in the ventrolateral RN, those projecting to the upper part of the spinal cord lie in the dorsomedial RN and those projecting to the medullary lateral tegmentum were found in the dorsal portions of the RN. These last neurons are smaller than many of the other RN neurons. The HRP results also revealed that the RN does not project to the caudal raphe nuclei. The autoradiographical results confirmed the HRP findings. They further indicated that the contralateral RN projections to the caudal brainstem precerebellar nuclei (nucleus corporis pontobulbaris, lateral reticular nucleus, lateral cuneate nucleus) and the dorsal column nuclei are also somatotopically organized. This was also true for the RN projections to the dorsomedial and intermediate facial subnuclei and the caudal pontine and medullary lateral tegmental field. These areas receive afferents from mainly the dorsal portions of the RN. Regarding the RN projections to the spinal cord, the autoradiographical tracing results revealed somatotopically organized contralateral RN projections to laminae V, VI and VII. Moreover, a small but distinct RN projection to a dorsolaterally located group of motoneurons at the C8-T1 level was demonstrated. Ipsilaterally a minor projection to the cervical and upper thoracic lateral intermediate zone was observed. Finally, strong ipsilateral projections from the rostral mesencephalon to the inferior olive were seen. These projections were derived from various rostral mesencephalic areas, including the nucleus of Darkschewitsch, the nucleus accessorius medialis of Bechterew, the interstitial nucleus of Cajal and the area of the rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. In the cat it was difficult to define which of the mesencephalic areas projecting to the inferior olive represented the parvocellular RN. A new subdivision of the RN is proposed based on its projections and not on the size of its cells. In this concept the first group is formed by the RN neurons projecting contralaterally to the caudal brainstem and spinal cord. The second group consists of RN neurons projecting to the inferior olive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The efferent connections of the feline nucleus cuneatus

Nucleus cuneatus projections to nucleus ventralis posterolateralis pars medialis (VPLm) and other thalamic as well as midbrain and medullary nuclei were studied in cats using the Fink-Heimer I silver technique. Single electrolytic lesions of very small size were made stereotaxically in different zones of nucleus cuneatus under electrophysiological control. All zones studied projected to contralateral VPLm in a pattern of discrete terminal arborizations or clusters, which were organized in onionskin-like dorso-ventral laminae. The clusters of degeneration varied in size and density according to their dorsoventral location within VPLm. Those in dorsal areas were smaller in diameter (50–125 μ) and contained less dense amounts of degeneration than clusters (150–300 μ) in more ventral regions. The clustered terminal arborizations mirrored the organization of the VPLm neuronal clusters, themselves. Terminations within VPLm were topographically organized, but were completely inverted, i.e. dorsal nucleus cuneatus projected to ventral VPLm and ventral to dorsal, lateral to medial, and medial to lateral VPLm. A ventral zone of nucleus cuneatus, which contained “deep” units, projected to a separate dorsal zone of VPLm. In addition to its classical connection with VPLm, nucleus cuneatus projected to the following contralateral brainstem or thalamic nuclei: medial and dorsal accessory olives, external nucleus of the inferior colliculus, ventrolateral part of the superior colliculus, nucleus ruber, medial geniculate nucleus pars magnocellularis, suprageniculatus, medial and lateral divisions of the posterior thalamic nuclear group, zona incerta, and Fields of Forel. Very sparse amounts of degeneration were also present within nuclei ventralis posteromedialis (caudal pole) and ventralis posterolateralis pars lateralis. The brainstem and thalamic projections of the dorsocaudal part (cell nest region) of the cuneate nucleus were more restricted than those of its rostral and ventral regions. The clusters of both the VPLm neurons and cuneate terminations within VPLm provides an anatomical basis for the functional characteristics of synaptic security, fine grain somatotopia and modality specificity so prominent in the dorsal column nuclei-medial lemniscal system.     

The organization of projection neurons in the opossum red nucleus

The opossum red nucleus is populated by neurons encompassing a considerable size range. The largest neurons (giant neurons, 45–70 μm) are restricted to its caudal, medial third, whereas those in the large-medium category (25–40 μm) are located throughout the nucleus. The smallest neurons (less than 20 μm) are relatively achromatic and few in number, but are also scattered throughout the nucleus.Evidence from both retrograde and orthograde degeneration studies shows that rubrospinal fibers arise from both giant and large-medium neurons in the caudal third of the nucleus and from large-medium neurons in its rostral two-thirds (mainly the ventral part). Neurons in the medial part of the caudal red nucleus (giant neurons particularly) contribute relatively few fibers to contralateral brain stem nuclei, whereas, large-medium neurons residing in its rostral two-thirds and in the lateral extreme of its caudal third project more extensively to such areas and appear to be the main source of fibers to the chief sensory and spinal trigeminal nuclei, the facial nucleus and the parvicellular reticular formation. Some of these rubrobulbar fibers are likely collaterals of spinal axons. The experimental results further suggest that (1) rubrocerebellar axons arise from both caudal and rostral areas of the nucleus, (2) some large-medium neurons project only to the contralateral brain stem and/or cerebellum, and (3) the ipsilateral rubrobulbar bundle arises from large-medium neurons which are located within the rostral red nucleus. Previous experimental light and electron microscopic studies, together with observations made from Golgi impregnated sections, provide evidence that the small neuron is intrinsic to the nucleus. The organization of the opossum red nucleus revealed by the origin of the various descending projections is generally reflected by its cortical and cerebellar inputs and by its histochemistry.     

Distinct, parallel pathways link the medial mammillary bodies to the anterior thalamus in macaque monkeys

Mammillary body neurons projecting to the thalamus were identified by injecting retrograde tracers into the medial thalamus of macaque monkeys. The source of the thalamic projections from the medial mammillary nucleus showed strikingly different patterns of organization depending on the site of the injection within the two anterior thalamic nuclei, anterior medialis and anterior ventralis. These data reveal at least two distinct modes by which the primate medial mammillary bodies can regulate anterior thalamic function. Projections to the thalamic nucleus anterior medialis arise mainly from the pars lateralis of the medial mammillary nucleus. A particularly dense source is the dorsal cap in the posterior half of the pars lateralis, a subregion that has not previously been distinguished. In contrast, neurons spread evenly across the medial mammillary nucleus gave rise to projections more laterally in the anterior thalamic nuclei. A third pattern of medial mammillary neurons appeared to provide the source of projections to the rostral midline thalamic nuclei. In contrast, the labeled cells in the lateral mammillary nucleus were evenly spread across that nucleus, irrespective of injection site. In addition to the established projection to anterior dorsalis, the lateral mammillary nucleus appears to project lightly to a number of other thalamic nuclei, including lateralis dorsalis, anterior medialis, anterior ventralis, and the rostral midline nuclei, e.g. nucleus reuniens. These anatomical findings not only reveal novel ways of grouping the neurons within the medial mammillary nucleus, but also indicate that the mammillothalamic connections support cognition in multiple ways.     

Distribution of cerebellar and somatic lemniscal projections in the ventral nuclear complex of the Virginia opossum

The distributions of cerebellar and somatic lemniscal projections to the ventral nucleus of the thalamus were compared in the opossum to determine the extent of overlap in the terminal field of these two fiber systems. Following lesions of these structures, the degenerated fibers were traced to the thalamus using the Fink-Heimer technique. The results indicate that the cerebellum projects only to the rostral portion of the ventral nucleus, while the gracile and cuneate nuclei project to the caudal portion of the ventral nucleus. We conclude from comparing these two afferent fiber systems that there is no detectable overlap in the cerebellar and lemniscal projections to the ventral thalamic nucleus of the opossum. These results support the hypothesis that the single somatic sensory-motor area of the opossum's cortex receive afferent fibers from at least two separate subdivisions of the ventral nucleus. Outside the border of the ventral nucleus, cerebellar and lemniscal projection fields do overlap, especially in a cell group just dorsal to the ventral posterior nucleus. This is a distinctly different type of organization of these afferent fiber systems. This cell group has recently been shown likewise to project to the parietal somatic sensory-motor cortex. Since the mode of intracortical termination of this projection differs markedly from that of the VP and VAL projections, the somatic sensory-motor cortex of the opossum can be said to receive fundamentally different projections from two thalamic regions both of which are recipients of both cerebellar and somatic-lemniscal information.     

Somatosensory nuclei in the brainstem of the rat: independent projections to the thalamus and cerebellum

The dorsal column nuclei and the sensory trigeminal nuclei project not only to the ventrobasal thalamus but also to the cerebellum. In this study the numbers and distribution of neurones projecting to these two regions were examined for the following nuclei: the rostral part of the main cuneate nucleus, the external cuneate nucleus, nucleus x, the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, and the oral, interpolar, and caudal subnuclei of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. A thalamic projection from nucleus x and from the external cuneate nucleus was confirmed, and a distinct group of neurones projecting to the ventroposteromedial thalamus was distinguished near the ventromedial aspect of the principal sensory nucleus. Of the 165,000 neurones examined, only one was found to be double labelled. It was concluded that the populations of neurones that project to the ventrobasal thalamus and to the cerebellum are separate, and that somatosensory neurones in the brainstem do not send axon collaterals to both regions.     

Topographic organization of projections from the thalamic reticular nucleus to the anterior thalamic nuclei in the rat

We have investigated connections between the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) in the rat, following injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into subnuclei of the ATN and different regions of the rostral TRN. Three nonoverlapping groups of neurons in the dorsal part of the ipsilateral rostral TRN project to, and receive reciprocal projections from, specific subnuclei of the ATN. A vertical sheet of neurons in the most dorsal part of the rostral TRN projects to the dorsal half of the posterior subdivision of the anteroventral thalamic nucleus (AVp), the dorsal region of the medial subdivision of the anteroventral thalamic nucleus (AVm), and the dorsolateral part of the rostral anterodorsal thalamic nucleus (AD). Immediately ventral to this part of TRN, but still within its dorsal portion, are a lateral cluster of neurons and a medially located vertical sheet of neurons. The lateral cluster projects to the ventral part of AVp and to the dorsomedial part of rostral AD. The medial sheet projects to the ventral part of AVm, the ventral part of rostral AD, and to the caudal portions of both AV and AD. There appears to be no input to the anteromedial thalamic nucleus (AM) from the TRN. These findings shed new light on the anatomy of the rostral TRN, the ATN, and the connections between the two, and are relevant to emerging hypotheses about the functional organization of the TRN and reticulo-thalamic projections.     

Efferent connections of the red nucleus in the brainstem and spinal cord of the Rhesus monkey

Three types of neuron with differences in Nissl pattern were found in the red nucleus of the rhesus monkey. Neurons with coarse Nissl bodies occurred only in the caudal third of the red nucleus except for a small number which extended rostrally a short distance along the dorsolateral margin. Neurons with fine Nissl bodies occupied the rostral two-thirds of the nucleus. Neurons with slight cytoplasmic basophilia (achromatic) were smaller than the other types and distributed throughout the red nucleus. Perikaryal areas of the coarse and fine neurons, measured with a computer, had widely overlapping distributions. Electrolytic lesions were made unilaterally in the red nucleus of nine monkeys. Ascending axonal degeneration was studied in sections stained by the Fink-Heimer method. Two separate descending tracts were followed. The rubrobulbo-spinal tract took origin from coarse neurons, crossed completely in the ventral tegmental decussation, and terminated as follows: in parts of the superior sensory trigeminal, motor facial and lateral reticular nuclei; in the gracile and cuneate nuclei; in the nucleus medullae oblongata, subnucleus dorsalis; in Rexed's laminae V, VI, VII at all levels of the spinal cord. In contrast, the rubroreticulo-olivary tract took origin from fine neurons, remained uncrossed, and terminated in some reticular nuclei (pedunculopontine, pontis oralis and caudalis, gigantocellularis) and in parts of the inferior olivary complex. Degeneration was profuse in the dorsal lamina of the main olive, abundant in the ventral lamina, particularly in its lateral side, sparse and inconstant in the medial accessory olive, and invariably absent in the dorsal accessory olive. Thus, nuclei which receive descending projections from the red nucleus may be grouped into those with connections to lower motor neurons, cerebellum, or thalamus.     

Diencephalic projections from the pontine reticular formation: autoradiographic studies in the cat

Ascending projections to the diencephalon from the pontine reticular formation were studied in the cat by autoradiographic techniques. Projections from both rostral and caudal pontine regions ascend to the caudal diencephalon and divide into two components; a dorsal leaf terminates primarily in the thalamic intralaminar complex and a ventral leaf terminates in the subthalamic region. The relative densities of the two terminal regions vary with the injection site. Fibers originating in the caudal pons (nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis) terminate relatively heavily in the intralaminar nuclei of the dorsal thalamus, particularly the centre median, central lateral, central dorsal and paracentral nuclei, and also the dorsal medial nucleus. Relatively sparse termination occurs in the subthalamic region. In contrast, fibers from the rostral pons (nucleus reticularis pontis oralis) terminate relatively heavily in the subthalamic region, including the zona incerta, the fields of Forel, the ventral part of the thalamic reticular complex, and the lateral hypothalamus. Relatively sparse termination occurs in the dorsal thalamus, but includes the centre median, parafascicular, central lateral, paracentral and dorsal medial nuclei. These data are discussed with regard to reticular control of forebrain activity and the role of the classic dorsal and ventral components of ascending reticular projections.     

Periaqueductal gray matter projections to midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei of the rat

The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) projections to the intralaminar and midline thalamic nuclei were examined in rats. Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) was injected in discrete regions of the PAG, and axonal labeling was examined in the thalamus. PHA-L was also placed into the dorsal raphe nuclei or nucleus of Darkschewitsch and interstitial nucleus of Cajal as controls. In a separate group of rats, the retrograde tracer cholera toxin beta-subunit (CTb) was injected into one of the intralaminar thalamic nuclei-lateral parafascicular, medial parafascicular, central lateral (CL), paracentral (PC), or central medial nucleus-or one of the midline thalamic nuclei-paraventricular (PVT), intermediodorsal (IMD), mediodorsal, paratenial, rhomboid (Rh), reuniens (Re), or caudal ventral medial (VMc) nucleus. The distribution of CTb labeled neurons in the PAG was then mapped. All PAG regions (the four columns of the caudal two-thirds of the PAG plus rostral PAG) and the precommissural nucleus projected to the rostral PVT, IMD, and CL. The ventrolateral, lateral, and rostral PAG provided additional inputs to most of the other intralaminar and midline thalamic nuclei. PAG inputs to the VMc originated from the rostral and ventrolateral PAG areas. In addition, the lateral and rostral PAG projected to the zona incerta. No evidence was found for a PAG input to the ventroposterior lateral parvicellular, ventroposterior medial parvicellular, caudal PC, oval paracentral, and reticular thalamic nuclei. PAG --> thalamic circuits may modulate autonomic-, nociceptive-, and behavior-related forebrain circuits associated with defense and emotional responses.     

Corticothalamic connections of the posterior parietal cortex in the rhesus monkey

Corticothalamic connections of posterior parietal regions were studied in the rhesus monkey by using the autoradiographic technique. Our observations indicate that the rostral superior parietal lobule (SPL) is connected with the ventroposterolateral (VPL) thalamic nucleus. In addition, whereas the rostral SPL is connected with the ventrolateral (VL) and lateral posterior (LP) thalamic nuclei, the rostral IPL has connections with the ventroposteroinferior (VPI), ventroposteromedial parvicellular (VPMpc), and suprageniculate (SG) nuclei as well as the VL nucleus. The caudal SPL and the midportion of IPL show projections mainly to the lateral posterior (LP) and oral pulvinar (PO) nuclei, respectively. These areas also have minor projections to the medial pulvinar (PM) nucleus. Finally, the medial SPL and the caudal IPL project heavily to the PM nucleus, dorsally and ventrally, respectively. In addition, the medial SPL has some connections with the LP nucleus, whereas the caudal IPL has projections to the lateral dorsal (LD) nucleus. Furthermore, the caudal and medial SPL and the caudal IPL regions have additional projections to the reticular and intralaminar nuclei-the caudal SPL predominantly to the reticular, and the caudal IPL mainly to the intralaminar nuclei. These results indicate that the rostral-to-caudal flow of cortical connectivity within the superior and inferior parietal lobules is paralleled by a rostral-to-caudal progression of thalamic connectivity. That is, rostral parietal association cortices project primarily to modality-specific thalamic nuclei, whereas more caudal regions project most strongly to associative thalamic nuclei.     

Retrograde double-labeling study of the mammillothalamic and the mammillotegmental projections in the rat

Collateral axonal branching from the medial or lateral mammillary nuclei to the anterior thalamus, Gudden's tegmental nuclei, the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, and the medial pontine nucleus was studied using the fluorescent retrograde double-labeling method. One day after injection of Fast Blue into the anterior thalamic nuclei or Gudden's tegmental nuclei, Nuclear Yellow was injected into Gudden's tegmental nuclei or the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis and the medial pontine nucleus. Following 1 day survival, single- and double-labeled neurons were examined in the mammillary nuclei. The lateral mammillary nucleus contains neurons whose collateral fibers project to both the dorsal tegmental nucleus of Gudden and the ipsilateral or contralateral anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, to both the medial pontine nucleus and the anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, and to both the dorsal tegmental nucleus of Gudden and the medial pontine nucleus. The pars medianus and pars medialis of the medial mammillary nucleus contain neurons whose collateral fibers project to both the anteromedial thalamic nucleus and the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden, to both the anteromedial thalamic nucleus and the medial part of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, and to both the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden and the medial part of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis. The dorsal half of the pars posterior of the medial mammillary nucleus contains a few neurons whose collateral fibers project to both the anteromedial thalamic nucleus and the rostral part of the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden, and to both the caudal part of the anteroventral thalamic nucleus and the rostral part of the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden, while the pars lateralis of the medial mammillary nucleus contains no double-labeled neurons and projects only to the anteroventral thalamic nucleus.     

Morphology,axonal projection pattern,and responses to optic nerve stimulation of thalamic neurons in the fire-bellied toad Bombina orientalis

Intracellular recording and biocytin labeling were carried out in the fire-bellied toad Bombina orientalis to study the morphology and axonal projections of thalamic (TH) neurons and their responses to electrical optic nerve stimulation. Labeled neurons (n = 142) were divided into the following groups: TH1 neurons projecting to the dorsal striatum; TH2 neurons projecting to the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and septal nuclei; TH3 neurons projecting to the medial or dorsal pallium; TH4 neurons with projections ascending to the dorsal striatum or ventral striatum/amygdala and descending to the optic tectum, tegmentum, and rostral medulla oblongata; TH5 neurons with projections to the tegmentum, rostral medulla oblongata, prectectum, or tectum; and TH6 neurons projecting to the hypothalamus. TH1 neurons are found in the central, TH2 neurons in the anterior and central, TH3 neurons in the anterior dorsal nucleus, and TH4 and TH5 neurons in the posterior dorsal or ventral nucleus. Neurons with descending projections arborize in restricted parts of retinal afferents; neurons with ascending projections do not substantially arborize within retinal afferents. At electrical optic nerve stimulation, neurons in the ventral thalamus respond with excitation at latencies of 10.8 msec; one-third of them follow repetitive stimulation and possibly are monosynaptically driven. Neurons in the dorsal thalamus respond mostly with inhibition at latencies of 42.3 msec and are polysynaptically driven. This corroborates the view that neurons in the dorsal thalamus projecting to the telencephalon receive no substantial direct retinal input and that the thalamopallial pathway of amphibians is not homologous to the mammalian retinogeniculocortical pathway.