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The organization of synaptic interconnections in the laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

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Summary

Four axon types occur in the lateral geniculate nucleus. Two contain vesicles with mainly round profiles and these are distinguished from each other by their size, the appearance of their contents and by the types of contact they make. The larger “RLP” axons are interpreted as retinogeniculate and the smaller “RSD” axons as corticogeniculate fibers. The other two axon types contain many irregular or flattened vesicles and these “F” axons are regarded as two types of intrageniculate fiber.

In laminae A and A 1 encapsulated synaptic zones form around grape-like dendritic appendages. These zones contain all axon types, but RSD axons are rare. Interstitial zones lie between the encapsulated zones and contain synapses formed by many RSD axons, some F and few RLP axons. The interstitial zones continue into the central interlaminar nucleus which forms a narrow band containing no encapsulated zones and few RLP axons. Lamina B contains relatively small RLP axons, very many RSD axons and only a few small encapsulated zones.

Axosomatic junctions are rare throughout the nucleus. Axo-axonal junctions occur in all laminae but mostly in the encapsulated zones; the postsynaptic element is always an F axon, RLP or RSD axons generally form the presynaptic element.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    R. W. Guillery

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Supported by Grant NB 06662 from the USPHS. The skillful technical assistance given by Mrs. E. Langer during the course of this work is gratefully acknowledged.

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Guillery, R.W. The organization of synaptic interconnections in the laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Z. Zellforsch. 96, 1–38 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00321474

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