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The distribution and topographical organization in the thalamus of anterogradely-transported horseradish peroxidase after spinal injections in cat and raccoon

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Summary

The distribution of anterogradely-transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was examined in the rostral mesencephalon and thalamus of cats and raccoons that had received injections of HRP in the cervical and/or lumbosacral enlargements of the spinal cord. Labeling was consistently observed in a large number of loci. All regions previously identified as targets of spinomesencephalic or spinothalamic fibers were included. Evidence of topographical organization was obtained in several regions. Adjacent fields of labeling were often separable on the basis of the distribution, appearance and topographical organization of the labeling. Subject to the methodological constraints imposed by the possibilities of transneuronal and/or collateral labeling, we conclude that a wide variety of loci in the thalamus receive direct spinal input. The organization of these projections suggests that each terminal region may be associated with different aspects of spinal cord function.

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Abbreviations

A:

anterior pretectal nucleus

AD:

anterodorsal n.

AM:

anteromedial n.

AV:

anteroventral n.

CeM:

centromedial n.

CD:

centrodorsal n. (raccoon)

CL:

centrolateral n.

CM:

centre median

H:

habenula

L n.a:

limitans

LD:

laterodorsal n.

LG:

lateral geniculate

LGv:

lateral geniculate, ventral subnucleus

LP:

lateral posterior n.

LPvi:

lateral posterior n., ventral intermediate part

M:

medial pretectal n.

mc:

medial geniculate, magnocellular subnucleus

MD:

mediodorsal n.

MG:

medial geniculate

ML:

medial lemniscus

N:

pretectal nucleus of the optic tract

nBIC:

n. of the brachium of the inferior colliculus

O:

olivary pretectal n.

OT:

optic tract

P:

posterior nucleus of Rioch

Pc:

paracentral n.

Pf:

parafascicular n.

PO:

posterior group of thalamus

PP:

posterior pretectal n.

Pt:

parataenial n.

Pul:

pulvinar

Pv:

paraventricular n. of thalamus

R:

reticular n.

Re:

n. reuniens

Rh:

rhomboid n.

RN:

red nucleus

SG:

suprageniculate n.

Sm:

n. submedius

SN:

substantia nigra

Spf:

subparafascicular n.

Tg:

mesencephalic tegmentum

VA:

ventroanterior n.

VP:

ventroposterior thalamus (i.e. VPM, VPI, and VPL)

VL:

ventrolateral n.

VM:

ventromedial n.

VMb:

ventromedial n., basal part

VPI:

ventroposteroinferior n.

VPL1a:

ventroposterolateral n., lateral part

VPLm:

ventroposterolateral n., medial part

VPM:

ventroposteromedial n.

ZI:

zona incerta

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  1. A. D. Craig

    Present address: Physiologisches Institut der Universität, Röntgenring 9, D-8700, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Physiology and Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, MO 63110, St. Louis, USA

    A. D. Craig & H. Burton

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Craig, A.D., Burton, H. The distribution and topographical organization in the thalamus of anterogradely-transported horseradish peroxidase after spinal injections in cat and raccoon. Exp Brain Res 58, 227–254 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235306

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