Summary
The existence of Golgi type II neurons was verified in the anterior intralaminar central lateral (CL) nucleus of the cat thalamus, and its projection cell types were identified, by means of Golgi impregnation. CL principal neurons were found to display a large- or medium-sized cell body and a radiate dendritic pattern. Their primary dendrites were limited in number, and had a rather long course; they were poorly ramified. The axons of principal neurons were impregnated only occasionally and for a short distance. Projection neurons of the ‘bushy’ or tufted type, described in the main thalamic sensory nuclei, were not identified in the CL in the present study. Typical Golgi type II neurons were found throughout CL. They were mainly small-sized, and displayed a rich dendritic arborization characterized by dendritic appendages. The axons of Golgi type II neurons were seen to give rise to extensive local arborizations. The present findings indicate that in the cat CL, principal cells are mainly represented by radiate neurons. Typical local circuit neurons also are evident in CL, suggesting that the activity of anterior intralaminar structures is regulated by intrinsic mechanisms similar to those operating in the main thalamic relay nuclei.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bentivoglio M, Minciacchi D, Molinari M, Granato A, Spreafico R, Macchi G (1988) The intrinsic and extrinsic organization of the thalamic intralaminar nuclei. In: Bentivoglio M, Spreafico R (eds) Cellular thalamic mechanisms. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 221–237
Cajal SR (1911) Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrés. Maloine, Paris
Fitzpatrick D, Penny GR, Schmechel DE (1984) Glutamic acid decarboxylase-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurosci 7:1809–1829
Guillery RW (1966) A study of Golgi preparations from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat. J Comp Neurol 128:21–50
Hazlett JC, Dutta CR, Fox CA (1976) The neurons in the centromedian-parafascicular complex of the monkey(Macaca mulatta): a Golgi study. J Comp Neurol 168:41–74
Jones EG (1985) The thalamus. Plenum Press, New York
Leontovich TA, Zhuckova GP (1963) The specificity of the neuronal structure and topography of the reticular formation in the brain and spinal cord of carnivora. J Comp Neurol 121:347–380
Macchi G, Bentivoglio M (1986) The thalamic intralaminar nuclei and the cerebral cortex. In: Peters A, Jones EG (eds) Cerebral cortex, Vol. 5. Plenum Press, New York, pp 355–401
Montero VM (1986) The interneuronal nature of GABAergic neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rhesus monkey: a combined HRP and GABA-immunocytochemical study. Exp Brain Res 64:615–622
Morest DK (1971) Dendrodendritic synapses of cells that have axons: the fine structure of the Golgi type II cell in the medial geniculate body of the cat. Z Anat Entwickl-Gesch 133:216–246
Pasik P, Pasik T, Hámori J, Szentágothai J (1973) Golgi type II interneurons in the neuronal circut of the monkey lateral geniculate nucleus. Exp Brain Res 17:18–34
Pearson JC, Norris JR, Phelps CH (1984) The cytoarchitecture and some efferent projections of the centromedian-parafascicular complex in the lesser bushbaby(Galago senegalensis). J Comp Neurol 225:554–569
Penny GR, Conley M, Schmechel DE, Diamond IT (1984) The distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity in the diencephalon of the opossum and rabbit. J Comp Neurol 228:38–56
Rinvik E, Ottersen OP, Storm-Mathisen J (1987) Gamma-aminobutyrate-like immunoreactivity in the thalamus of the cat. Neuroscience 21:781–805
Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1967) Structural organization of non-specific thalamic nuclei and their projection toward cortex. Brain Res 6:60–94
Sherman SM (1988) Functional organization of the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus. In: Bentivoglio M, Spreafico R (eds) Cellular thalamic mechanisms. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 163–195
Smith Y, Seguela P, Parent A (1987) Distribution of GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the thalamus of the squirrel monkey(Saimiri sciureus). Neurosci 22:579–591
Spreafico R, Schmechel DE, Ellis LC, Rustioni A (1983) Cortical relay neurons and interneurons in the n. ventralis posterolateralis of cats: a horseradish peroxidase, electron microscopic, Golgi and immunocytochemical study. Neurosci 9:491–509
Steriade M, Deschênes M (1984) The thalamus as a neuronal oscillator. Brain Res Rev 8:1–63
Steriade M, Deschênes M, Domich L, Mulle C (1985) Abolition of spindle oscillations in thalamic neurons disconnected from nucleus reticularis thalami. J Neurophysiol 54:1473–1497
Tömböl T (1967) Short neurons and their synaptic relations in the specific thalamic nuclei. Brain Res 3:307–326
Tömböl T (1969) Two types of short axon (Golgi 2nd) interneurons in the specific thalamic nuclei. Acta Morphol Acad Sci Hung 17:285–297
Tseng G-F, Royce GJ (1986) A Golgi and ultrastructural analysis of the centromedian nucleus of the cat. J Comp Neurol 245:359–378
Velayos JL, Jiménez-Castellanos J Jr, Reinoso-Suárez F (1989) Topographical organization of the projections from the reticular thalamic nucleus to the intralaminar and medial thalmic nuclei in the cat. J Comp Neurol 279:457–469
Yen CT, Conley M, Jones EG (1985) Morphological and functional types of neurons in cat ventral posterior thalamic nucleus. J Neurosci 5:1316–1338
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tömböl, T., Bentivoglio, M. & Macchi, G. Neuronal cell types in the thalamic intralaminar central lateral nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 81, 491–499 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02423497
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02423497