Skip to main content
Log in

Topographical mapping of the thalamocortical projections in rodents and comparison with that in primates

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The general topographical organization of the thalamo-cortical projection of two rodents, the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and the Guinea pig (Cavia aperta) was investigated with the HRP-method and compared with that of the new world primate marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as shown in a companion study by Brysch et al. (1990). HRP was injected into various regions of the cortex in different animals and hemispheres (see Fig. 1), and plots were made of the retrogradely stained thalamic projection neurons. The thalamocortical projection is virtually identical in both rodent species. It is topological throughout in that nearby cortical injections label nearby, though overlapping cell groups in the thalamus. Cortical injections in a rostro-caudal progression labelled thalamic projection zones on top of each other, layered like tiles on a roof or fish scales, beginning in the rostromedial and ending in the caudo-dorsal thalamus. The progression vector of thalamic zones projecting successively from more rostral to more caudal cortical zones is twisted and turns from a predominantly mediolateral direction in the anterior thalamus to an essentially ventro-dorsal direction in the posterior thalamus (Figs. 8 and 9). In the marmoset, the thalamo-cortical topography follows the same topological rule, with the exception of the lateral geniculate body which is translocated latero-ventrally and separated from the rest of the thalamus as in all primates. This suggests a general thalamocortical mapping rule common to all mammals which can be related to gradients and timing of cell birth in the thalamus. It is proposed that this mapping rule is the consequence of successive appositions of neurons in the medio-ventral thalamus during ontogenetic development.

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

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AD:

Nucleus antero-dorsalis

AM:

Nucleus anteromedialis

AV:

Nucleus antero-ventralis

CI:

Capsula interna

CL:

Nucleus centro-lateralis

CM:

Nucleus centro-medialis

FF:

Fimbria fornicis

FO:

Fornix

FR:

Fasciculus retroflexus

GLD:

Nucleus geniculatus lateralis dorsalis

GLV:

Nucleus geniculatus lateralis ventralis

GM:

Nucleus geniculatus medialis

HM-HL:

Nucleus habenularis medialis and lateralis

LD:

Nucleus lateralis dorsalis

LM, ML:

Leminiscus medialis

LP:

Nucleus lateralis posterior

LP-PO:

Nucleus lateralis posterior/posterior complex

MD:

Nucleus medialis dorsalis

NPC:

Nucleus commissurae posterioris

OT:

Tractus opticus

P:

Nucleus pulvinaris

PA:

Nucleus praetectalis

PF:

Nucleus parafascicularis

PM:

Nucleus paramedianus

PT:

Nucleus parataenialis

PV:

Nucleus paraventricularis

RE:

Nucleus reuniens

RH:

Nucleus rhomboidalis

RN:

Nucleus ruber

RT:

Nucleus reticularis

SM:

Nucleus submedialis

SM:

Stria medullaris

SN:

Substantia nigra

TM:

Tractus mamillothalamicus (Vicq d'Azyr)

VA:

Nucleus ventralis anterior

VB:

Nucleus ventrobasalis (VPL + VPM)

VL:

Nucleus ventralis lateralis

VM:

Nucleus ventralis medialis

VPL:

Nucleus ventralis postero-lateralis

VPM:

Nucleus ventralis postero-medialis

ZI:

Zona incerta

References

  • Adams JC (1977) Technical considerations on the use of Horseradish peroxidase as a neuronal marker. Neuroscience 2:141–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann J, Bayer SA (1979) Development of the diencephalon in the rat. V. Thymidineradiographic observations on internuclear and intranuclear gradients in the thalamus. J Comp Neurol 188:473–500

    Google Scholar 

  • Angevine JB, Jr (1970) Time of neuron origin in the diencephalon of the mouse. An autoradiographic study. J Comp Neurol 139:129–188

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brodmann K (1909a) Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der Großhirnrinde in ihren Prinzipien dargestellt auf Grund des Zellenbaues. In: Barth JA (ed) Leipzig, pp 324

  • Brysch I, Brysch W, Creutzfeldt OD, Hayes NL, Schlingensiepen K-H (1984) The second, intralaminar thalamo-cortical projection system. Embryology 169:111–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Brysch W, Brysch I, Creutzfeldt OD, Schlingensiepen R, Schlingensiepen K-H (1990) The topology of the thalamo-cortical projections in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus). Exp Brain Res 81:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman J, Clerici JW (1981) Organisation of thalamic projections to visual cortex in opossum. Brain Behav Evol 18:41–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman J, Diamond IT, Winer JA (1977) The visual cortex of the opossum: the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase to the lateral geniculate and lateral posterior nuclei. Brain Res 137:233–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig AD, Jr, Wiegand SJ, Price JL (1982) The thalamo-cortical projection of the nucleus submedius in the cat. J Comp Neurol 206:28–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Creutzfeldt OD (1985) Comparative aspects of representation in the visual system. In: Chagas C, Gatass R, Gross C (eds) Pattern recognition mechanisms. Exp Brain Res (Suppl) 11:53–81

  • Dick A, Kaske A, Creutzfeldt OD (1991) Topographical and topological organization of the thalamo-cortical projection to the striate and prestriate cortex in the marmoset Callithrix jacchus. Exp Brain Res 84:233–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Dürsteler MR, Blakemore C, Garey LJ (1979) Projections to the visual cortex in the golden hamster. J Comp Neurol 183:185–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallyas F (1979) Silver staining of myelin by means of physical development. Neurol Res 1:203–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman-Rakic P, Porrino L (1985) The primate mediodorsal (MD) nucleus and its projection to the frontal lobe. J Comp Neurol 242:535–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Graybiel AM, Berson DM (1980) Histochemical identification and afferent connections of subdivisions in the lateralis posteriorpulvinar complex and related thalamic nuclei in the cat. Neurosci 5:1175–1238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess A (1955) The nuclear topography and architectonics of the thalamus of the guinea pig. J Comp Neurol 103:385–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Höhl-Abrahão JC (1985) Vergleichend-anatomisches Studium der thalamo-corticalen Afferenzen von Säugetieren. Dissertation Universität Göttingen

  • Höhl-Abrahão JC (1986) Topological principle of the thalamocortical projections in mammals. Brazil J Med Biol Res 19:488

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones EG (1980) Organization of the thalamo-cortical complex and its relation to sensory processes. In: Darian-Smith I (ed) Handbook of physiology, neurophysiology. Am Physiol Soc, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones EG (ed) (1985) The Thalamus. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones EG, Leavitt RY (1973) Demonstration of thalamo-cortical connectivity in the cat somato-sensory system by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res 63:414–418

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones EG, Leavitt RY (1974) Retrograde axonal transport and the demonstration of nonspecific projections to the cerebral cortex and striatum from thalamic intralaminar nuclei in the rat, cat and monkey. J Comp Neurol 154:349–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Kievit J, Kuypers HGJM (1977) Organization of the thalamo-cortical connections in the frontal lobe in the rhesus monkey. Exp Brain Res 29:299–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovac W, Denk H (1968) Der Hirnstamm der Maus. Topographie, Cytoarchitektonik und Cytologie. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlenbeck H (1978) The central nervous system of vertebrates. Vol 5 (ii): Mammalian telencephalon: surface morphology and cerebral cortex. S Karger, Basel

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen KD, Asanuma H (1979) Thalamic projections to the feline motor cortex studied with horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res 172:209–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Macchi C, Rinvik E (1976) Thalamo-telencephalic circuits: a neuroanatomical survey. In: Remond A (ed) Handbook of Electroencephalogr. and Clin. Neurophysiol, Vol 2A, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 86–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Macchi G, Bentivoglio M (1982) The organization of the efferent projections of the thalamic intralaminar nuclei: past, present and future of the anatomical approach. Ital J Neurol Sci 2:83–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Markowitsch HJ, Pritzel M (1981) Prefrontal cortex of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) defined as cortical projection area of the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus. Brain Behav Evol 18:80–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam MM (1978) Tetrametylbenzidine for horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: a noncarcinogenic blue reaction product with superior sensitivity for visualizing neural afferents and efferents. J Histochem Cytochem 26:106–117

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam MM (1982) Tracing neural connections with horseradish peroxidase. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro DG, Dukelow RH (1972) A stereotaxic atlas of the diencephalon and related structures of the mouse. Futura Publishing Comp, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran A, Avendano C, Reinoso-Suarez F (1982) Thalamic afferents to the motor cortex in the cat. A horseradish peroxidase study. Neurosci Lett 33:229–233

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neylon L, Haight JR (1983) Neocortical projections of the suprageniculate and posterior thalamic nuclei in the marsupial brush-tailed possum, Thrichosurus vulpecula (phalangeridae), with a comparative commentary on the organization of the posterior thalamus in Marsupial and placental mammals. J Comp Neurol 217:357–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimi K, Kuwahara E (1973) The dorsal thalamus of the cat and comparison with monkey and man. J Hirnforsch 14:303–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimi K, Matsuoka H (1979) Thalamo-cortical organization of the auditory system in the cat studied by retrograd axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 57:1–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimi K, Matsuoka H, Aisaka T (1981a) Thalamic afferents to the prefrontal cortex in the cat traced with horseradish peroxidase. J Hirnforsch 22:221–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimi K, Matsuoka H, Yamasaki Y, Matsumoto H (1981b) Thalamic afferents to the visual cortex in the cat studied by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Brain Behav Evol 18:114–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Norita M, Mucke L, Benedek G, Albowitz B, Katoh Y, Creutzfeldt OD (1986) Connections of the anterior ectosylvian visual area (AEV). Exp Brain Res 62:225–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrino LJ, Cushman AJ (1967) A stereotaxic atlas of the rat brain. Allan Memorial Institute, McGill University, Montreal. Appleton-Century Crofts, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Raczkowski D, Rosenquist AC (1983) Connections of the multiple visual cortical areas with the lateral posterior-pulvinar complex and adjacent thalamic nuclei in the cat. J Neurosci 3:1912–1942

    Google Scholar 

  • Rakic P (1977) Genesis of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in the Resus monkey: Site and time of origin, kinetics and proliferation, routes of migration and pattern of distribution of neurons. J Comp Neurol 176:23–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Redies H, Brandner S, Creutzfeldt OD (1989) Anatomy of the auditory thalamocortical system of the guinea pig. J Comp Neurol 282:489–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose M (1912) Histologische Lokalisation der Großhirnrinde bei kleinen Säugetieren (Rodentia, Insectivora, Chiroptera). J Psychol Neurol 19:119–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose JE, Woolsey C (1949) Organization of the mamallian thalamus and its relationships to the cerebral cortex. EEG Clin Neurophysiol 1:391–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlingensiepen R, Creutzfeldt OD (1989) Development of the thalamus in the mouse. An auto-radiographic study with 3H- thymidine. 12th Ann Meeting Europ Neuroscience Ass, Eur J Neurosci (Suppl)

  • Updyke BV (1983) A reevaluation of the functional organization and cytoarchitecture of the feline lateral posterior complex, with observation adjoining cell groups. J Comp Neurol 219:143–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolsey CN (1958) Organization of somatic and motor areas of the cerebral cortex. In: Harlaw HF, Woolsey CN (eds) Biological and biochemical basis of behavior. University Press of Wisconsin, Madison/USA, pp 63–81

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Höhl-Abrahão, J.C., Creutzfeldt, O.D. Topographical mapping of the thalamocortical projections in rodents and comparison with that in primates. Exp Brain Res 87, 283–294 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231845

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231845

Key words

Navigation