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

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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.

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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

nPAc :

nucleus pretectalis anterior pars compacta

nPAr :

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

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Author notes

  1. R. Spreafico

    Present address: Dept. of Neurophysiology, Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta”, Milan, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Anatomy, School of Medicine U.N.C., Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    R. Spreafico

  2. Dept. of Neurophysiology, Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta”, Milan, Italy

    S. Franceschetti & G. Avanzini

Authors
  1. R. Spreafico
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  2. C. Kirk
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  3. S. Franceschetti
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  4. G. Avanzini
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Additional information

Supported by H. de Jur Foundation and USPHS Grant TWO 2718

Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Postfach 968, D-3400 Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

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Spreafico, R., Kirk, C., Franceschetti, S. et al. Brain stem projections to the pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex of the cat. Exp Brain Res 40, 209–220 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237539

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237539

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