bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship of the axonal and dendritic geometry of spiny projection neurons to the compartmental organization of the neostriatum
Authors: Penny G. R. , Wilson C. J. , Kitai S. T.
Published: January 2005

Intracellular injection of HRP combined with immunocytochemistry for [Leu]enkephalin was used to demonstrate striatal spiny neuron dendritic and local axonal arborizations in the same section as enkephalin‐rich patches (striosomes). Cobalt intensification of the first DAB reaction prior to the immunoperoxidase steps resulted in good contrast between the black reaction product in the intracellularly labeled cells and the brown staining for [Leu]enkephalin. Serial reconstructions of the labeled cells and nearby boundaries between the enkephalin‐rich striosomes and enkephalin‐poor matrix allowed the relationship between the arborizations of the labeled cells and these boundaries to be established. It was also possible to examine the relationship to compartmental boundaries of a second neuronal class consisting of large, pallidallike neurons whose somatodendritic morphology was outlined by immunoperoxidase‐labeled terminals.

We found that spiny projection neurons in both compartments have dendritic arbors and local axonal collaterals that are confined by compartmental boundaries. The termination or recurvature of dendrites at such boundaries suggests that the cellular basis of striatal compartmental organization is provided by this class of striatal neuron. On the other hand, large pallidumlike striatal neurons were found to have dendrites that extend across compartmental boundaries. These results support previous reports that striatal spiny projection neurons preserve the compartmental segregation of parallel striatal input‐output systems, whereas other classes of striatal neurons may serve to provide limited integration between compartments.
Medullary and spinal efferents of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and adjacent mesopontine tegmentum in the rat
Authors: Rye David B. , Lee Henry J. , Saper Clifford B. , Wainer Bruce H.
Published: January 2005

The medullary and spinal efferents of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and adjacent mesopontine tegmentum were investigated by employing (1) the anterograde autoradiographic methodology and (2) the retrograde transport of HRP and/or WGA‐HRP in combination with choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry.

The anterograde experiments identified five descending pathways from the mesopontine tegmentum: (1) Probst's tract, which descends in the dorsolateral reticular formation in close relation to the nucleus of the solitary tract; (2) a ventrolateral branch of Probst's tract that extends ventrolaterally alongside the spinal trigeminal nucleus; (3) a ventromedial branch of Probst's tract that extends ventromedially through the gigantocellular field of the medulla; (4) the medial reticulospinal tract, which descends in parallel with the medial longitudinal fasciculus and turns ventrolaterally along the dorsal surface of the inferior olive to enter the ventrolateral funiculus of the spinal cord; and (5) a crossed ventromedial pathway, which descends in a ventral paramedian position through the magnocellular field of the medulla.

The origins of these pathways reflected a rough lateral‐to‐medial topography of mesopontine tegmental cell groups. The parabrachial nucleus, situated furthest laterally, for example, projected primarily through Probst's tract and its ventrolateral branch. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, midbrain extrapyramidal area, and the subceruleal region, situated more medially, projected descending axons largely through the ventromedial branch of Probst's tract. The pontine tegmental field, situated furthest medially and ventromedially, was the largest contributor to the medial reticulospinal tract.

The retrograde transport experiments confirmed these general organizational features. The combination of retrograde transport with choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry established that the cholinergic pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus contributes a large portion to the mesopontine tegmental innervation of the medullary reticular formation. A much smaller number of cholinergic pedunculopontine neurons project as far as the spinal cord. Spinal projections from the mesopontine tegmentum originate largely from non‐cholinergic neurons of the midbrain extrapyramidal area, subceruleal region, Kölliker‐Fuse division of the parabrachial nucleus, and pontine tegmental field.
Topographical organization of cortical afferents to extrastriate visual area PO in the macaque: A dual tracer study
Authors: Colby C. L. , Gattass R. , Olson C. R. , Gross C. G.
Published: January 2005

We have examined the origin and topography of cortical projections to area PO, an extrastriate visual area located in the parieto‐occipital sulcus of the macaque. Distinguishable retrograde fluorescent tracers were injected into area PO at separate retinotopic loci identified by single‐neuron recording.

The results indicate that area PO receives retinotopically organized inputs from visual areas V1, V2, V3, V4, and MT. In each of these areas the projection to PO arises from the representation of the periphery of the visual field. This finding is consistent with neurophysiological data indicating that the representation of the periphery is emphasized in PO. Additional projections arise from area MST, the frontal eye fields, and several divisions of parietal cortex, including four zones within the intraparietal sulcus and a region on the medial dorsal surface of the hemisphere (MDP).

On the basis of the laminar distribution of labeled cells we conclude that area PO receives an ascending input from V1, V2, and V3 and receives descending or lateral inputs from all other areas. Thus, area PO is at approximately the same level in the hierarchy of visual areas as areas V4 and MT.

Area PO is connected both directly and indirectly, via MT and MST, to parietal cortex. Within parietal cortex, area PO is linked to particular regions of the intraparietal sulcus including VIP and LIP and two newly recognized zones termed here MIP and PIP. The wealth of connections with parietal cortex suggests that area PO provides a relatively direct route over which information concerning the visual field periphery can be transmitted from striate and prestriate cortex to parietal cortex. In contrast, area PO has few links with areas projecting to inferior temporal cortex. The pattern of connections revealed in this study is consistent with the view that area PO is primarily involved in visuospatial functioning.
Propriospinal fibers in the white matter of the cat sacral spinal cord
Authors: Chung Kyungsoon , Coggeshall Richard E.
Published: January 2005

The propriospinal system, which consists of those neurons completely contained within the spinal cord, is important because it underlies much spinal behavior. To provide quantitative data on this system, the present study determines numbers of axons in the isolated S2 cat spinal cord and compares these figures with the normal. The conclusion is that 60% of the fibers in the spinal cord at this location are propriospinal. Findings of particular interest are that the great majority of unmyelinated propriospinal axons are found in the dorsal part of the lateral funiculus, and that there are large numbers of descending myelinated fibers in the dorsal funiculi. These data will serve as a basis for evaluating axon numbers that follow various experimental regimens purporting to result in neural sprouting.
Topographical organization of the thalamic afferent connections to the motor cortex in the cat
Authors: Morán M. Asunción , Reinoso‐Suárez Fernando
Published: January 2005

The topographical distribution of the cortical afferent connections to the different subdivisions of the motor cortex (MC) was studied in adult cats. The retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase technique was used. Small single injections of the enzyme were made in the entire MC, including the hidden regions in the depth of the sulcus cruciatus. The areal location and density of the subsequent thalamic neuronal labeling were evaluated in each case. Comparison of the results obtained in the various cases shows that the following: (1) The ventral anterior‐ventral lateral complex is the principal thalamic source of afferents to the MC. (2) The ventral medial, dorsal medial, the different components of the posterior thalamic group (lateral, medial, and ventral posteroinferior and suprageniculate nuclei), and the intralaminar, lateral anterior, lateral intermediate, lateral medial, and anteromedial thalamic nuclei are also thalamic sites in which neural projections to the MC arise. (3) The thalamocortical projections to the MC are sequentially organized. The connections arising from the lateral part of the thalamus end in the region of area 4 that is situated medially in the superior lip of the sulcus cruciatus and in the posterior sigmoid gyrus. The projections originating in the most medial thalamic regions terminate in that region of area 6aβ which is located in the medial part of the inferior lip of the cruciate sulcus, and in the anterior sigmoid gyrus. Moreover, the ventral thalamic areas send connections to the most anteriorly located zones of the MC, while the most dorsal thalamic ones project to the most posteriorly located parts of the MC. (4) This shift in the thalamocortical connections is not restrained by cytoarchitectonic boundaries, either in the thalamus or in the cortex. (5) The populations of thalamocortical cells which project to neighboring MC subdivisions exhibit consistent overlapping among themselves. (6) These findings suggest, moreover, that the basal ganglia and the cerebellar projections to the MC through the thalamus are arranged in a number of parallel pathways, which may occasionally overlap.
Projections of the medial preoptic nucleus: A Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin anterograde tract‐tracing study in the rat
Authors: Simerly R. B. , Swanson L. W.
Published: January 2005

The projections of the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) were examined by making injections of the anterogradely transported lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA‐L) into the MPN and charting the distribution of labeled fibers. The evidence indicates that the MPN projects extensively to widely distributed regions in both the forebrain and brainstem, most of which also supply inputs to the nucleus. An important neuroendocrine role for the MPN is underscored by its extensive projections to almost all parts of the periventricular zone of the hypothalamus, including the anteroventral periventricular, anterior part of the periventricular, paraventricular (PVH), and arcuate nuclei, and a role in autonomic mechanisms is indicated by projections to such regions as the dorsal and lateral parvicellular parts of the PVH, the lateral parabrachial nucleus, and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Other projections of the MPN suggest participation in the initiation of specific motivated behaviors. For example, inputs to two nuclei of the medial zone of the hypothalamus, the ventromedial and dorsomedial nuclei, may be related to the control of reproductive and ingestive behaviors, respectively, although the possible functional significance of a strong projection to the ventral premammillary nucleus is presently unclear. The execution of these behaviors may involve activation of somatomotor regions via projections to the substantia innominata, zona incerta, ventral tegmental area, and pedunculopontine nucleus. Similarly, inputs to other regions that project directly to the spinal cord, such as the periaqueductal gray, the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, certain medullary raphe nuclei, and the magnocellular reticular nucleus may also be involved in modulating somatic and/or autonomic reflexes. Finally, the MPN may influence a wide variety of physiological mechanisms and behaviors through its massive projections to areas like the ventral part of the lateral septal nucleus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the lateral hypothalamic area, the supramammillary nucleus, and the ventral tegmental area, all of which have extensive connections with regions along the medial forebrain bundle.

Although the PHA‐L method does not allow a clear demonstration of possible differential projections from each subdivision of the MPN, our results suggest that each of them does give rise to a unique pattern of outputs. This pattern of projections was found to be essentially the same in female rats and appears to be unique to the MPN, since injections of PHA‐L into the lateral preoptic or anterior hypothalamic areas, or into other nuclei within the medial preoptic area showed quite different patterns of outputs.
Topography of interhemispheric connections in neocortex of mice with congenital deficiencies of the callosal commissure
Authors: Olavarria Jaime , Serra‐Oller Marcos M. , Yee Kathleen T. , van Sluyters Richard C.
Published: January 2005

Normally, axons within the corpus callosum are ordered according to the cortical regions from which they originate, and callosal cells and terminations form elaborate cortical patterns related to the underlying topographic representations of the sensory periphery. About 30% of mice of the BALB/c strain show congenital deficiencies of the callosal commissure which range from total absence of the corpus callosum to a moderate reduction in the size of this commissure. In the light of current theories about the origin of these callosal deficiencies, it seems likely that fibers crossing the mid‐plane in mutant mice have to circumvent local disturbances along their migration path. Since these disturbances in fiber trajectory may, in turn, alter the overall pattern of callosal projections, we set out to investigate whether the distribution of callosal connections in mice with marked deficiencies of the corpus callosum is as ordered as in normal mice.

In groups of normal and mutant mice, we used multiple injections of horseradish peroxidase to reveal the overall distribution of callosal connections and restricted injections of horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin to reveal finer aspects of the organization of the callosal pathway in these animals. Our results show that the number of labeled cells is reduced in mice with a small corpus callosum and that no labeled cells are present in the neocortex of acallosal mice. Furthermore, the topographic distribution of fibers within the corpus callosum of mutant mice can be significantly less ordered than in normal mice. However, even in mice with extreme deficiencies of the corpus callosum, callosal fibers originate from and terminate in all major areas of the cortex, and, within these areas, callosal cells and terminations are distributed according to the normal plan. The laminar distribution of callosal cells also appears normal in these mice. These findings indicate that gross developmental anomalies of the corpus callosum do not prevent normal specification of the callosal pattern during development. Within the context of current theories about the origin of congenital callosal deficiencies, our findings suggest that callosal fibers are able to establish appropriate contralateral connections in spite of alterations of their migration route. They also suggest that fiber topography within the corpus callosum does not play an important role in guiding migrating axons to their correct contralateral targets. Finally, our failure to find labeled fibers within the anterior commissure indicates that this commissure does not serve as an alternative route for deviated callosal axons.
Supraspinal nocifensive responses of cats: Spinal cord pathways, monoamines, and modulation
Authors: Casey Kenneth L. , Morrow Thomas J.
Published: January 2005

These experiments were conducted to determine (1) whether dorsal and ventral ascending spinal pathways can each mediate unlearned supraspinal nocifensive responses of cats to noxious thermal stimuli and (2) whether interrupting the spinal projection of supraspinal monoaminergic neurons alters the excitability and natural modulation of these responses. In partially restrained cats, thermal pulses (≥ 47°C) delivered to the hindlimbs of intact cats or rostral to lesions of the thoracic spinal cord elicited abrupt body movements and interruption of eating (or of exploring for) liquified food. These electronically monitored responses automatically terminated the stimulus. Natural modulation of responsiveness was produced by delivering food and thermal stimuli simultaneously; this reduced response probability by an average of 41%. Complete transection of the thoracic spinal cord eliminated both thermally elicited responses, and orienting responses to noxious and tactile mechanical stimulation of the hindlimbs.

Ventral bilateral thoracic spinal cord lesions that spared only the dorsal funiculus and portions of the dorsolateral funiculus (three cats) significantly reduced orienting responses to all mechanical hindlimb stimuli and reduced, but did not eliminate, movement and interrupt responses to noxious thermal hindlimb stimuli. Response latency was unaffected. Food‐induced response supression persisted although lumbar spinal cord concentrations of serotonin (5HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were markedly reduced. A bilateral lesion of the dorsal funiculi and dorsal portions of the dorsolateral funiculi (one cat) also reduced nocifensive responsiveness, but only the NE concentration in lumbar spinal cord was reduced significantly relative to a matched cervical sample. In contrast, deep bilateral lesions of the dorsolateral funiculi (two cats) produced an increase in the probability of movement and interrupt responses without affecting either response latency or food‐induced response supression. Lumbar spinal cord concentrations of NE and, in one cat, 5HT were reduced.

We conclude that (1) the dorsal and ventral spinal funiculi are each sufficient to initiate and necessary to maintain normal supraspinally organized nocifensive behavior in the cat; (2) descending monoaminergic pathways are not necessary for the phasic modulation of these responses; and (3) the tonic excitability, but not the phasic modulation, of these responses is determined in part by fibers in the dorsolateral funiculus.
GABA immuno‐electron microscopic study of the nucleus of the optic tract in the rabbit
Authors: van der Want J. J. L. , Nunes Cardozo J. J.
Published: January 2005

The pretectal nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) was investigated immunocytochemically with an antiserum against gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) employing the pre‐embedding peroxidase antiperoxidase technique at the light microscopic level and the postembedding colloidal gold technique at the electron microscopic level. GABA immunoreactivity was observed in cell bodies of different sizes and as punctate structures in the neuropil. In the electron microscope, besides immunoreactive dendrites, four different types of terminals were found to be GABA‐immunopositive; three types of terminals with clustered and flattened vesicles (F‐profile) and a fourth type with pleomorphic vesicles, presumably of dendritic origin (P‐profile). Both P‐and F‐profiles formed symmetrical synapses with dendritic profiles arranged in clusters ensheathed by glial elements. GABA‐immunopositive terminals were observed in synaptic contact with somata and retinal terminals (R‐profiles) that were always GABA‐immunonegative. Some GABA‐immunopositive somata showed presynaptic contacts with dendrites. The presence of GABA in numerous distinct elements in the NOT and the diversity in labeled somata and terminals demonstrate the importance of the inhibitor neurotransmitter in the NOT and suggest that its function is not limited to interneurons.
Organization of the zebra finch song control system: I. Representation of syringeal muscles in the hypoglossal nucleus
Authors: Vicario David S. , Nottebohm Fernando
Published: January 2005

Understanding the representation of learned skills in the brain requires that one know the neural substrate for those skills. The avian song control system uses auditory information to establish and modify motor programs, which provide patterns for the excitation of individual muscles. In the present study, a combination of neurophysiological and anatomical techniques was used to map the representation of syringeal muscles in the tracheosyringeal part of the hypoglossal nucleus of adult male zebra finches. Microstimulation revealed that control zones for individual muscles are arranged along the rostrocaudal axis of the nucleus. The ventralis and dorsalis muscles have the largest domains, located at the rostral and caudal ends of the nucleus, respectively. The retrograde tracer fluorogold was applied to the muscles and confirmed this pattern. The muscle map obtained will provide a useful tool for further study of the convergence of muscle representation and sound representation in the more central portions of the song control pathway. This knowledge is essential for understanding how learned sounds are perceived and produced.
Neurofilament phosphorylation in axons and perikarya: Immunofluorescence study of the rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia with monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Dahl D. , Labkovsky B. , Bignami A.
Published: January 2005

Rat dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord were stained with 12 monoclonal antibodies reacting with phosphorylated epitopes of two neurofilament proteins (NF 150K and NF 200K). Three monoclonal antibodies were axon‐specific in both locations; neuronal perikarya were not stained. Nine monoclonal antibodies stained a subpopulation of neurofilament‐positive sensory neurons, as indicated by double labeling experiments with polyclonal antibodies reacting with phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of the neurofilament protein triplet. Of these nine antibodies, two stained motor neuron perikarya in the spinal cord, while the remaining seven antibodies were axon‐specific in this location. Subpopulations of stained and unstained motor neurons were not observed. With all 12 antibodies, the staining pattern in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord remained unchanged following sciatic nerve crush and ligature. The findings suggest that, in the neurofilament, some phosphorylated epitopes are axon specific, while other phosphorylated epitopes are present in both axons and perikarya. Furthermore, they suggest that differences exist between neuronal populations as to the presence of phosphorylated epitopes in perikaryal neurofilaments. It remains to be seen whether phosphorylation events in perikarya and axons have similar or different effects on neurofilament structure and function.
Plasticity of primary afferent acid phosphatase expression following rerouting of afferents from muscle to skin in the adult rat
Authors: McMahon Stephen B. , Moore Christopher E. G.
Published: January 2005

We have examined the possibility that reinnervation of a new peripheral target by primary afferent neurones can alter the histochemical properties of those afferents in the adult rat. The hindlimb sural and gastrocnemius nerves largely supply skin and muscle, respectively. In adult animals these nerves were cut and rejoined to either their own distal stumps (self‐anastomosis) or that of the other nerve (cross‐anastomosis) and allowed to regenerate for 12‐16 weeks to reinnervate an appropriate or inappropriate target. Fluoride‐resistant acid phosphatase (FRAP) is a chemical marker found in many unmyelinated afferents. We have determined the FRAP expression in normal and regrown nerves and examined its distribution in the dorsal horn of animals with self‐ and cross‐anastomosed nerves.

While normal and self‐anastomosed sural nerves stained heavily for FRAP, gastrocnemius nerves showed either no staining or only the occasional fibre. Cross‐anastomosed gastrocnemius nerves, now innervating the skin, showed a significant increase in staining, in some cases approaching the levels normally seen in sural nerves. Conversely, cross‐anastomosed sural nerves (innervating muscle) showed decreased FRAP staining. In the normal dorsal horn the terminals of FRAP containing afferents form a thin band extending throughout the mediolateral extent of lamina II (Devor and Claman: Brain Res. 190:17‐28, '80). One week after axotomy of the sural nerve, FRAP is depleted from its terminals and a gap appears in the normal FRAP staining pattern in the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord. The new expression of FRAP in cross‐anastomosed nerves was also seen in their terminals in the dorsal horn. This occurred in lamina II of the spinal segments L4‐L6 and was quantified by measuring the size of the gap in FRAP staining produced by sural axotomy. Cross‐anastomosis of the gastrocnemius nerve reduced the size of the gap significantly to 69 ± 7.8% (standard error) of the gap seen contralaterally with self‐anastomosis.

The results demonstrate that reinnervation of an inappropriate target can lead to changes in the histochemical properties of afferents in adult animals. It is suggested that tissue‐specific trophic factors produced by the target tissues are sampled by innervating neurones and act to modify their properties.
Distribution of catecholaminergic neuronal systems in the canine medulla oblongata and pons
Authors: Barnes Karen L. , Chernicky Cheryl L. , Block Christine H. , Ferrario Carlos M.
Published: January 2005

The distribution of catecholamine‐containing neurons, fibers, and varicosities in the brainstem of both adult and juvenile dogs was mapped in detail with glyoxylic acid histofluorescence. Four separate groups of catecholamine‐fluorescent neurons were identified within the canine medulla and pons in locations comparable to the A1, A2, A5, and A6 regions reported in other species. However, aspects of the pattern and density of the catecholaminergic neuronal systems appeared to be unique to the dog. The A1 neurons of the caudal ventrolateral medulla were much more scattered than in rats or rabbits, but relatively similar to cats. In the A2 region of the dorsomedial medulla, catecholaminergic cells and fibers were uniquely distributed compared to other species: fluorescent neurons were scattered only within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, and a distinctive pattern of fibers and varicosities outlined the nucleus of the solitary tract and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The A5 neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla appeared at the rostral limit of the A1 region. Fluorescent A5 cells were more sparse than in rats or primates, and were patterned similarly to cats and rabbits. The canine A6 region contained the most extensive and dense grouping of catecholamine neurons and was similar in pattern to the rabbits but less extensive than that seen in cats or primates. An ascending catecholaminergic fiber pathway was traced through the central tegmental field of the canine medulla and pons, with features similar to the primate. The present study provides the first description of the catecholaminergic neuronal systems of the canine medulla.
Morphometric parameters of the superior colliculus of albino and pigmented rats
Authors: Albers F. J. , Meek J. , Nieuwenhuys R.
Published: January 2005

The superior colliculus (SC) or optic tectum of mammals consists of seven layers, numbered I‐VII from superficial to deep, each of which has distinct connectivity patterns and electrophysiological response properties. The present study is devoted to a morphometrical analysis of neuronal diameters, densities, and numbers in different layers and regions of the SC of albino as well as pigmented rats in order to present a quantitative characterization of the collicular neuronal population involved in the different connectivities and functions of these compartments. The morphometric parameters were calculated from tracings of nuclei and cell bodies by means of Kontron‐Videoplan equipment and a Micro PDP 11/23 computer. The mean soma diameter per superior colliculus appears to be 12.0 μm, the average neuronal density 70 cells per 0.001 mm3, and the total number of neurons about 600,000. The mean soma diameter gradually increases from superficial to deep layers (i.e., from 10.0 to 14.0 μm). Cellular density is highest in layer III, the retinal afferent layer (90 cells per 0.001 mm3), and decreases both in more superficial layers (to about 80 in layer I) and deeper layers (to about 44 in layer VII). About 25% of all collicular neurons are situated in layer II whereas layer I contains the lowest percentage of cells (4%). Rostrally within each collicular layer, cellular volumes are about 25% larger than caudally. On the other hand, neuronal densities are rostrally about 38% lower than caudally in all layers except for layers VI and VII. We conclude that collicular neurons, in contrast to collicular axons, are not arranged in distinct layers or clusters but basically establish a random network with only gradual transitions. In this respect, no statistically significant differences were observed between albino and pigmented rats.
Fetal homotypic transplant in the excitotoxically neuron‐depleted thalamus: Light microscopy
Authors: Peschanski Marc , Isacson Ole
Published: January 2005

One month after an in situ injection of kainic acid into the ventrobasal thalamic complex (VB), the lesioned area is totally depleted of neurons. The present study has been undertaken to determine the cytoarchitecture and connectivity of the nucleus constructed by fetal thalamic neurons implanted into the excitotoxically lesioned area.

Adult rats received an injection of kainic acid inducing a total neuronal depletion of the right lateral thalamus (including both the nucleus reticularis thalami and the lateral portion of the ventrobasal complex). One month later, homotypic neurons were taken from the dorsal thalamic primordium of rat embryos (gestational age 15–16 days), dissociated, and injected into the lesioned area as a cell suspension. After 2–4‐month survival, the cytoarchitecture of the neonucleus formed by the grafted neurons within the previously neuron‐depleted area was analyzed. Additionally, connectivity was analyzed in seven rats in which dorsal column nuclei and/or cortical projections to the area were labeled anterogradely with either 3H‐leucine or wheat‐germ agglutinin conjugated to HRP, and the animals were perfused and processed following various histological procedures (Nissl staining, autoradiographic processing, and histochemistry for visualization of peroxidase).

Fetal neurons grew, differentiated, and progressively occupied the previously neuron‐depleted area of the adult host CNS. They organized themselves into a neonucleus with particular cytoarchitecural features including (1) the existence of two concentric zones–a central zone containing neurons and glial cells and a marginal zone only filled with a band of glial cells, (2) an increase in cellular density compared to the intact thalamus, (3) the grouping of neurons in spherical clusters, and (4) apparent polymorphism of neuronal somata. Lemniscal and corticothalamic afferents originating from the host were observed in the neonucleus when the fetal neurons had been implanted correctly into the lesioned area but not when they had been misplaced into either normal thalamic tissue or the internal capsule. The afferents labeled from either the dorsal column nuclei or the somatosensory cortex were, however, less dense in the neonucleus than in the normal thalamus.

These results are discussed with regard to the normal cytoarchitecture and connectivity of the ventrobasal complex of the rat thalamus.
A Population of ascending intersegmental interneurones in the locust with mechanosensory inputs from a hind leg
Authors: Laurent Gilles , Burrows Malcolm
Published: January 2005

A population of some 35 intersegmental interneurones with somata in the metathoracic ganglion has been characterized by intracellular recording and staining. These interneurones integrate signals from extero‐ and proprioceptors on a hind leg. The somata are clustered in an anterior and lateral region of the dorsal cortex, and the axons project to more anterior ganglia in either the ipsilateral or contralateral connectives.

Some of these interneurones are excited by afferents from a proprioceptor at the femorotibial joint, the femoral chordotonal organ. An afferent spike evokes a chemically mediated EPSP in an interneurone with a latency and consistency that suggest that the connection is direct. An individual interneurone codes particular features of the movement about the femorotibial joint, responding to flexion, extension, or both directions of movement with either phasic or tonic responses. These interneurones have an extensive field of fine branches ipsilateral to the hind leg from which they receive input. These branches are in lateral and intermediate regions of neuropil to which the afferents of the chordotonal organ also project. Axonal branches, from either an ipsilateral and contralateral axon, are sparse and varicose and occur in dorsal neuropil.

Other interneurones are excited by afferents from exteroceptive hairs (trichoid sensilla). An individual interneurone is excited by a particular array of hairs on specific regions of a hind leg. The connections between the afferents and the interneurones appear direct. These interneurones have a dense and compact array of fine branches ipsilateral to the hind leg from which they receive input. These branches are in the most ventral region of neuropil, to which the hair afferents also project. Branches from the ipsilateral axons are sparse and varicose and occur in more dorsal neuropil.

The interneurones can thus provide the more anterior ganglia with precise information about the movement of a joint in a hind leg and of the location of an exteroceptive stimulus. This information would be of importance in ensuring the correct co‐ordination of the legs during walking.
Somatotopic mapping of sensory neurons innervating mechanosensory hairs on the larval prolegs of Manduca sexta
Authors: Peterson Barbara A. , Weeks Janis C.
Published: January 2005

The abdominal prolegs are the principal locomotory appendages of the larval tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The prolegs bear numerous mechanosensory bristle sensilla, each innervated by an afferent neuron that arborizes within the central nervous system (CNS). Based on their positions on the proleg, we have divided the sensilla into planta hairs (PHs), lateral hairs (LHs), and medial hairs (MHs). Previously, we found that PH afferents produce monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in proleg retractor muscle motoneurons, the size of which depends on the position of the hair in the PH array. In this paper we examined the central arbors of the proleg afferents to determine whether there was an anatomical correlate to the pattern of synaptic strengths. We found that the afferent arbors are arranged somatotopically within the CNS in a pattern similar to that for bristle afferents elsewhere on the abdomen; i.e., the anterior‐posterior and medial‐lateral position of a hair on the proleg was reflected in the location of the afferent arbor along the corresponding axes within sensory neuropil. All afferents terminated within a similar ventral region of neuropil. The arbors of PH, MH, and to a lesser extent, LH afferents, were enlarged as compared to afferents innervating hairs elsewhere on the abdomen. This feature, combined with the dense innervation of the proleg, causes the proleg region to be relatively overrepresented in sensory neuropil. We also examined the afferents innervating a pair of ventral midline hairs (VMHs) present in each abdominal segment, which, unlike the other afferents, showed segment‐specific central arbors. We conclude that the somatotopic mapping of afferent arbors may contribute to the specificity of synaptic connections in this system.
Organization of a sensory neuropile in the auditory pathway of two groups of orthoptera
Authors: Römer Heiner , Marquart Volker , Hardt Martin
Published: January 2005

The anterior intermediate sensory neuropile (aISN) is a prominent neuropile in the ventral nerve cord of locusts and bushcrickets. Previous studies have shown that it receives its main sensory input from auditory receptors. In this paper we examine the structural and physiological relationship between tympanal receptor terminations and the dendrites of sound‐sensitive interneurones in the homologous neuropile of locusts and bushcrickets.

Each individual receptor fibre of the bushcricket terminates in a some what different target area of the neuropile. The ordering is with respect to the characteristic frequency of the fibres (tonotopic) in the anterior‐posterior and dorsoventral axis. In the locust, representatives of the four tympanal receptor groups branch in different areas of the aISN. Most of the dorsal neuropilar region, and the anterior ventral region, do not receive input from tympanal receptors.

The dendrites of identified sound‐sensitive interneurones were examined in the context of this afferent projection. Local interneurones as well as intersegmental interneurones in bushcrickets have dendritic branches in the whole aISN or part of it and thus overlap with at least some receptors. By recording intracellularly from their main neurites, short‐latency synaptic potentials were found in response to receptor spikes indicating monosynaptic input. The tuning of these neurones could be predicted by their dendritic morphology. In contrast, in the locust only local and bisegmental neurones are monosynaptically connected with tympanal receptors, but not the studied intersegmental neurones. This is consistent with the finding that most or all branches of intersegmental neurones lie in the dorsal area of neuropile where no receptors terminate. Anatomical and physiological evidence is presented for identified local neurones providing the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input for such intersegmental neurones.

The difference in the basic wiring diagram in the homologous neuropile of the two orthopteran groups is discussed with respect to the possible different roles that sound plays in their behaviour.
Representation of the visual field in the second visual area in the Cebus monkey
Authors: Rosa Marcello G. P. , Sousa Aglai P. B. , Gattass Ricardo
Published: January 2005

The representation of the visual field in the second visual area (V2) was reconstructed from multiunit visual responses and anatomical tracers. Receptive field plotting was performed during multiple recording sessions in seven Cebus apella monkeys under N2 O/O2 and immobilized with pancuronium bromide. V2 forms a continuous belt of variable width around striate cortex (V1) except at the most anterior portion of the calcarine sulcus. In each hemisphere V2 contains a visuotopic representation of the contralateral visual hemifield. The representation of the vertical meridian is adjacent to that of V1 and forms the posterior border of V2. The representation of the fovea of V2 is adjacent to that of V1. The representation of the horizontal meridian (HM) is continuous with that of V1; then it splits to form the anterior border of V2, both dorsally and ventrally. The lower quadrant of the visual field is represented dorsally and the upper quadrant ventrally. The visual topography of V2 is coarser than that of V1. In V2, receptive fields corresponding to recording sites separated by a cortical distance of up to 4 mm may represent the same portion of the visual field.

In three additional animals, combined injections of fluorescent tracers along the HM representation in V1 yielded two projection sites at the anterior border of V2. The split of the HM representation is estimated to occur at an eccentricity below 1°.

Quantitative analysis showed that in V2 the representation of the central visual field is magnified relative to that of the periphery. The cortical magnification factor is greater along the isopolar dimension than along the isoeccentric one. Receptive field size in V2 increases with increasing eccentricity.

In sections stained for myelin by the Heidenhein‐Wöelcke method V2 can be distinguished from the surrounding cortex for most of its extent.
The development of the corpus callosum in cats: A light‐ and electron‐ microscopic study
Authors: Berbel P. , Innocenti G. M.
Published: January 2005

Changes in the size and shape of the corpus callosum (CC)–and in number, size, and structure of callosal axons–between embryonic day 38 E38 and postnatal day 150 (P150) were studied by light and electron microscope in 25 kittens. The development of the CC was divided into three phases: Embryonic development (E38, 53, 58): At E38, only part of the body of the CC was formed. At E53 and E58, the CC was still very short, but its different parts genu, body, and splenium) had formed. The cross‐sectional callosal area (CCA) was 5.4 mm2 at E53 and 5.6 mm2 at E58. The CC contained 46.3 and 56.4 million axons at E53 and E58 respectively. Mean axon diameters were 0.26 μm at E53 and 0.27 μm at E58. Early postnatal development (P4, 9, 15, 18, 21, 26): The CC at P4 was much longer than at E58 and still slightly elongated during this phase; CCA reached 8.55 mm2 at P4 and 8.88 mm2 at P26. There was a substantial axonal loss (66.8 million at P4 and 52.6 million at P26). From P15 onward, premyelinated and myelinated axons were seen. Mean axon diameter increased from 0.30 μm at P4 to 0.33 μm at P26. Late postnatal development (P39, 57, 92, 107, 150). The CC grew dramatically in both length and thickness, the latter especially in the genu. CCA was 10.1 mm2 at P39 and 15.3 mm2 at P150. The number of axons still decreased (46.5 million at P39 and 31.9 million at P150). The growth of the CCA paralleled the increase of myelinated axons (0.5% a t P26 and 29.6% at P150 and in the mean axon diameters (0.34 μm at P39 and 0.42 μm at P150). A number of axonal ultrastructural peculiarities (electron‐dense bodies, large vacuoles, lamellated bodies, etc., including those mentioned below) were noticed; their frequency at different ages was estimated as the percent of total axons. Interestingly, accumulations of vesicles inside axons increased from 4.1% a t E53 to 8.9% at P26, dropped to 0.2% at P39, and remained below 1% thereafter. Swollen mitochondria increased from 0.2% at E53 to 0.9% a t P26 and dropped to 0.06% (on the average) from P39 onward. Accumulations of vesicles and swollen mitochondria increased during the phase of rapid axonal elimination; thus, they may indicate axonal retraction and/or degeneration. Microglia‐gitter cells and astrocytes showing signs of phagocytosis were found during the embryonic and early postnatal development and may be involved in axon elimination.
Regional distribution of cholecystokinin receptors in macaque medial temporal lobe determined by in vitro receptor autoradiography
Authors: Kritzer M. F. , Innis R. B. , Goldman‐Rakic P. S.
Published: January 2005

Cholecystokinin (CCK) binding sites were localized in the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial temporal cortices of macaque monkeys by using techniques of in vitro receptor autoradiography. Binding sites were labeled with 3H‐CCK‐8 and 125I‐CCK‐33, and nonspecific binding was assessed in the presence of 1 μM CCK‐8. Comparison of autoradiograms with Nisslstained sections allowed precise correlation of autoradiographic grain distribution with cytoarchitecture.

CCK binding in the amygdala varied among nuclear subdivisions. It was dense in the lateral, basomedial, endopiriform, and cortical nuclei, in the parvicellular portion of the accessory basal nucleus, the periamygdaloid cortex, the cortical transition area, and in the amygdalohippocampal area. Labeling was sparse in the central, medial, and basolateral nuclei as well as in the magnocellular accessory basal nucleus. In the hippocampal formation, a single dense band of CCK binding was observed over the granule cell layer and adjacent few millimeters of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, while in the polymorph and remaining portions of this layer binding was of very low density. Prominent label over the pyramidal layer in the presubiculum clearly distinguished this region from the adjacent subiculum in which binding just exceeded background levels. Moderate to light label was observed in the hilus and stratum pyramidale of CA3, CA2, and CA1, while other hippocampal layers showed minimal specific binding.

Variation in CCK binding in the medial temporal cortex showed close correspondence to cytoarchitectonic subdivisions. In entorhinal cortex, for example, binding was concentrated in layers III‐VI while label in area 35 was prominent in all laminae except layer IV. Area TH of von Bonin and Bailey ('47) was distinguished from other regions by evenly distributed binding across all layers, while in area TF a bilaminar pattern of label in layers II and IV was observed.

The highly specific patterns of CCK binding in amygdala and transitional cortices of the medial temporal lobe can be related to terminal fields of neo‐ and allocortical afferents to these regions, while label in the hippocampal formation coincides with the terminals of intrinsic neurons which ramify among the somata of cells that are targets of neocortical afferents. Thus, in all structures of the medial temporal lobe the disposition of peptidergic binding sites suggests that CCKergic systems may be important in the modulation of cortical afferents.
The projection of the medial and posterior articular nerves of the cat's knee to the spinal cord
Authors: Craig A. D. , Heppelmann B. , Schaible H.‐G.
Published: January 2005

We studied the spinal projections of the medial and posterior articular nerves (MAN and PAN) of the knee joint in the cat with the aid of the transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase. The afferent fibers of the MAN entered the spinal cord via the lumbar dorsal roots L5 and L6 and those of the PAN entered via the dorsal roots L6 and L7. Within the dorsal root ganglia, most labeled neurons had small to medium diameters. A relatively higher number of medium‐size cell bodies were labeled from the PAN than from the MAN. In the spinal cord labeled MAN afferent fibers and terminations were most dense in the L5 and L6 segments, and those of the PAN were most dense in L6 and L7, that is, in the respective segments of entry. Labeled afferent fibers from both nerves projected rostrally at least as far as L1 and caudally as far as S2. Labeled fibers were found in Lissauer's tract as well as in the dorsal column immediately adjacent to the dorsal horn. In the spinal gray matter, both nerves had two main projection fields, one in the cap of the dorsal horn in lamina I, the other in the deep dorsal horn in laminae V‐VI and the dorsal part of lamina VII. Both nerves, but particularly the PAN, projected to the medial portion of Clarke's column. No projection was found to laminae II, III, and IV of the dorsal horn or to the ventral horn. Since these findings parallel observations on hindlimb muscle afferent fibers, the present data support the existence of a common pattern for the central distribution of deep somatic afferent fibers.