Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An autoradiographic study of topographical relationships between pallidal and cerebellar projections to the cat thalamus

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Injections of 3H-leucine were made in the entopeduncular nucleus or dentate nucleus of the cerebellum in eight cats. The terminal projection zones of both pathways in the thalamus were studied using the sagittal plane and their relationships to one another as well as to cytoarchitectural boundaries of thalamic nuclei were compared. The data indicate that the territories controlled by the two projection systems are almost entirely segregated. The segregation is mainly along the antero-posterior axis as the main pallidal projection zone occupies the medio-ventral VA while the main dentate projection zone lies posterior to it in the VL. Furthermore, the dorsolateral part of the VA not occupied by pallidal projections receives dentate projections. In the VM, both afferent systems terminate in the lateral part of the nucleus with pallidal territory located anteriorly and dentate territory located posteriorly, again without overlap. As the delineations of nuclear subdivisions in the ventral thalamus of the cat have been a subject of some controversy, it is suggested that the boundaries of the VA, VL and VM in the cat thalamus be defined on the basis of basal ganglia and cerebellar projection zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AM:

anterior medial nucleus

AV:

anterior ventral nucleus

BC:

brachium conjunctivum

CA:

anterior commissure

CC:

crus cerebri

CP:

posterior commissure

CD:

caudate nucleus

CE:

centrum medianum

CLN:

central lateral nucleus

DN:

dentate nucleus

EPN:

entopeduncular nucleus

FF:

Forel's field

FN:

fastigial nucleus

FR:

fasciculus retroflexus

HL:

lateral habenular nucleus

HM:

medial habenular nucleus

INA:

anterior interposite nucleus

INP:

posterior interposite nucleus

IC:

internal capsule

LD:

lateral dorsal nucleus

LG:

lateral geniculate body

MD:

medial dorsal nucleus

MTT:

mamillothalamic tract

NR:

red nucleus

OT:

optic tract

PAC:

paracentral nucleus

PF:

parafascicular nucleus

PV:

pulvinar

RT:

reticular thalamic nucleus

SM:

submedian nucleus

SN:

substantia nigra

SNr:

substantia nigra pars reticularis

STN:

subthalamic nucleus

VF:

ventral posterior nucleus

VA:

ventral anterior nucleus

VL:

ventral lateral nucleus

VM:

ventral medial nucleus

ZI:

zona incerta

References

  • Afifi A, Kaelber W (1965) Efferent connections of the substantia nigra in the cat. Exp Neurol 11: 474–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Angaut P, Bowsher D (1970) Ascending projections of the medial cerebellar (fastigial) nucleus: an experimental study in the cat. Brain Res 24: 49–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Angaut P (1970) The ascending projections of the nucleus interpositus posterior of the cat cerebellum: an experimental anatomical study using silver impregnation methods. Brain Res 25: 377–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Bava A, Cicirata F, Licciardello S, Volsi GL, Panto MR (1979) Fastigial nuclei projection on the ventralis lateralis (VL) thalamic nucleus neurons. Brain Res 168: 169–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentivoglio M, Rossini P, Macchi G, Tempesta E (1978) Le proiezioni talamocorticali del nucleo ventrale anteriore. Studio mediante il trasporto assonale retrograde di HRP nel gatto. Arch Ital Anat Embriol 83: 111–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman AL, Jones EG (1982) The thalamus and basal telencephalon of the cat. A cytoarchitectonic atlas with stereotaxic coordinates. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier G, Deniau JM (1982) Inhibitory nigral influence on cerebellar evoked responses in the rat ventromedial thalamic nucleus. Exp Brain Res 48: 369–376

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Nauta WJH, Mehler WR (1964) The ascending efferent projections of the substantia nigra. Trans Am Neurol Assoc 89: 74–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan WM, Gottlieb EI, Hendrickson AE, Price JL, Woolsey TA (1972) The autoradiographic demonstration of axonal connections in the central nervous system. Brain Res 37: 21–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Deniau JM, Lackner D, Feger J (1978) Effect of substantia nigra stimulation on identified neurons in the VL-VA thalamic complex: comparison between intact and chronically decorticated cats. Brain Res 145: 27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • DiChiara G, Porceddu ML, Morelli M, Mulas ML, Gessa GL (1979) Evidence for a GABA-ergic projection from the substantia nigra to the ventromedial thalamus and to the superior colliculus of the rat. Brain Res 176: 273–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Grofova I, Rinvik E (1974) Cortical and pallidal projections to the nucleus ventralis lateralis thalami. Anat Embryol 146: 113–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassler R (1959) Anatomy of the thalamus. In: Schaltenbrand G, Bailey P (eds) Introduction to stereotaxic operations with an atlas of the human brain. Thieme, Stuttgart, pp 230–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendry SHC, Jones EG, Graham J (1979) Thalamic relay nuclei for cerebellar and certain related fiber systems in the cat. J Comp Neurol 185: 679–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilinsky IA, Kultas-Uinsky K, Smith KR (1978) A stereotaxic method based on ventricular radiography in the cat (with special reference to the stereotaxic topography of the substantia nigra). Exp Brain Res 33: 469–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilinsky IA, Kultas-Ilinsky K, Young PA, Smith KR (1980) Stereotactic neurosurgery in experimental animals. Use of intracerebral landsmarks and an atlas of the cat brain. Appl Neurophysiol 43: 269–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilinsky IA, Kultas-Ilinsky K, Smith KR (1982) Organization of basal ganglia inputs to the thalamus. A light and electron microscopic study in the cat. Appl Neurophysiol 45: 230–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick IC, Starr MS, Fletcher A, James TA, Macleod NK (1980) Evidence for a GABAergic nigrothalamic pathway in the rat. I. Behavioral and biochemical studies. Exp Brain Res 40: 45–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Kultas-Ilinsky K, Ilinsky IA, Massopust LC, Young PA, Smith KR (1978) Nigrothalamic pathway in the cat demonstrated by autoradiography and electron microscopy. Exp Brain Res 33: 481–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Kultas-Ilinsky K, Ilinsky IA, Young PA, Smith KR (1980a) Ultrastructure of degenerating cerebellothalamic terminals in the ventral medial nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 38: 125–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Kultas-Ilinsky K, Warton S, Tolbert DL, Ilinsky IA (1980b) Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of dentate and fastigial afferents identified by electron microscopic autoradiography in the cat thalamus. Brain Res 201: 220–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen KD, McBride RL (1979) The organization of feline entopeduncular nucleus projections: Anatomical studies. J Comp Neurol 184: 293–308

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod NK, James TA, Kilpatrick IC, Starr MS (1980) Evidence for a GABAergic nigrothalamic pathway in the rat. II. Electrophysiological studies. Exp Brain Res 40: 55–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall KC, McLennan H (1972) The synaptic activation of neurons of the feline ventrolateral thalamic neucleus: possible cholinergic mechanisms. Exp Brai Res 15: 472–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuda Y, Nakamura M (1982) Mode of activation of thalamic neurons by stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nuclei in the cat. Brain Res 241: 370–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehler W (1971) Idea of a new anatomy of the thalamus. J Psychiatr Res 8: 203–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano K, Takimoto T, Kayahara T, Takeuchi Y, Oayashi Y (1980) Distribution of cerebellothalamic neurons projecting to the ventral nuclei of the thalamus: An HRP study in the cat. J Comp Neurol 194: 427–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauta HJW (1979) Projections of the pallidal complex: an autoradiographic study in the cat. Neuroscience 4: 1853–1873

    Google Scholar 

  • Penney JB, Young AB (1981) GABA as the pallidothalamic neurotransmitter: implications for basal ganglia function. Brain Res 207: 195–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinvik E (1968a) A re-evaluation of the cytoarchitecture of the ventral nuclear complex of the cat's thalamus on the basis of corticothalamic connections. Brain Res 8: 237–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinvik E (1968b) The cortico-thalamic projection from the gyrus proreus and the medial wall of the rostral hemisphere in the cat. An experimental study with silver impregnation methods. Exp Brain Res 5: 129–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinvik E, Grofova I (1974) Cerebellar projections to the nuclei ventralis lateralis and ventralis anterior thalami. Experimental electron microscopical and light microscopical studies in the cat. Anat Embryol 146: 95–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Rispal-Padel L, Grangetto A (1977) The cerebello-thalamo cortical pathway. Topographical investigation at the unitary level in the cat. Exp Brain Res 28: 101–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1966) The organization of the ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus. A. Golgi study. Brain Res 1: 250–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton GB, Sakai S, Tanaka D (1983) Some comparisons of the ventral thalamic nucleus in carnivores and monkeys. Anat Rec 205: 191A

  • Strick PL (1973) Light microscopic analysis of the cortical projection of the thalamic ventrolateral nucleus in the cat. Brain Res 55: 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugimoto T, Mizuno N, Itoh K (1981) An autoradiographic study on the terminal distribution of cerebellothalamic fibers in the cat. Brain Res 215: 29–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueki A (1983) The mode of nigro-thalamic transmission investigated with intracellular recording in the cat. Exp Brain Res 49: 116–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Uno M, Yoshida M, Hirota I (1970) The mode of cerebello-thalamic relay transmission investigated with intracellular recording from cells of the ventrolateral nucleus of cat's thalamus. Exp Brain Res 10: 121–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Uno M, Ozawa N, Yoshida M (1978) The mode of pallido-thalamic transmission investigated with intracellular recording from cat thalamus. Exp Brain Res 33: 493–507

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Neurosurgery, Dept. of Surgery, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 63104, St. Louis, MO, USA

    I. A. Ilinsky

  2. Dept. of Anatomy, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 52242, Iowa City, IA, USA

    K. Kultas-Ilinsky

Authors
  1. I. A. Ilinsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Kultas-Ilinsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in part by a grant from the American Parkinson Disease Association and NIH grant R01NS19280

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ilinsky, I.A., Kultas-Ilinsky, K. An autoradiographic study of topographical relationships between pallidal and cerebellar projections to the cat thalamus. Exp Brain Res 54, 95–106 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235822

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235822

Key words

Search

Navigation