Summary
In rat the presence of axon collaterals from corticospinal neurons to the contralateral hemisphere has been investigated by means of anatomical and electrophysiological techniques.
Anatomical Experiments. Several combinations of fluorescent retrograde tracers were used. In eight rats injections of Evans Blue, “True Blue”, “Fast Blue” or DAPI-Primuline were made in areas 10, 6, and 4 and in the most medial part of the S1 granular cortex of one hemisphere, 1.5 mm below cortical surface. These injections were combined with injections of “Fast Blue”, DAPI-Primuline, “Granular Blue”, “Nuclear Yellow”, or Bisbenzimide in the ipsilateral corticospinal tract in the C2 segment.
Survival times of the animals varied according to the tracers used. In the non-injected hemisphere the retrogradely labeled corticospinal neurons were present in layer V of especially areas 10, 6, 4 and the medial portion of the S1 granular cortex. However, the retrogradely labeled callosal neurons in these areas were present in all layers except layer I. The labeled callosal and corticospinal neurons in layer V were intermingled and frequently situated very close to one another. However, with none of the tracer combinations were double labeled neurons observed. Electrophysiological Experiments. In six rats, layer V neurons of hindlimb-sensorimotor cortex were tested for antidromic responses to stimulation of contralateral corticospinal tract (CST) and corpus callosum (CC). Eighty-five CST neurons were identified, none of which responded antidromically to CC shocks. Eighty-two layer V neurons were identified which responded antidromically to CC shocks, but none of them responded antidromically to CST shocks. CC shocks elicited strong synaptic responses in CST neurons and vice versa. Depth measures indicated extensive intermingling of CST and CC neurons.
From both sets of findings it was concluded that, in rat, CST neurons do not give rise to callosal collaterals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abzug C, Maeda M, Peterson BW, Wilson VJ (1974) Cervical branching of lumbar vestibulospinal axons. J Physiol (Lond) 243: 495–522
Angel A, Lemon RN (1975) Sensorimotor cortical representation in the rat, and the role of the cortex in the production of sensory, myoclonic jerks. J Physiol (Lond) 248: 465–488
Asanuma H, Okamota K (1959) Unitary study on evoked activity of callosal neurons and its effect on pyramidal tract cell activity on cats. Jpn J Physiol 9: 473–483
Asanuma H, Okuda O (1962) Effects of transcallosal volleys on pyramidal tract cell activity of cat. J Neurophysiol 25: 198–208
Bentivoglio M, Kuypers HGJM, Catsman-Berrevoets CE (1980a) Retrograde neuronal labeling by means of bisbenzimide and nuclear yellow (S 769121). Measures to control diffusion of the tracers out of retrogradely labeled neurons. Neurosci Lett (in press)
Bentivoglio M, Kuypers HGJM, Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Dann O (1979a) Fluorescent retrograde neuronal labeling in rat by means of substances binding specifically to adenine-thymine rich DNA. Neurosci Lett 12: 235–240
Bentivoglio M, Kuypers HGJM, Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Loewe H, Dann O (1980b) Two new fluorescent retrograde neuronal tracers, which are transported over long distances. Neurosci Lett (in press)
Bentivoglio M, Vanderkooy D, Kuypers HGJM (1979b) The organization of the efferent projections of the substantia nigra in the rat. A retrograde fluorescent double labeling study. Brain Res 174: 1–17
Brown LT (1971) Projections and termination of the corticospinal tract in rodents. Exp Brain Res 13: 432–450
Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Kuypers HGJM (1979) Differences in distribution of corticospinal axon collaterals to thalamus and midbrain tegmentum in cat, demonstrated by means of double retrograde fluorescent labeling of cortical neurons. Neurosci Lett [Suppl] 3: 133
Deschênes M (1977) Dual origin of fibers projecting from motor cortex to SI in cat. Brain Res 132: 159–162
Endo K, Araki T, Yagi N (1973) The distribution and pattern of axon branching of pyramidal tract cells. Brain Res 57: 484–491
Hicks SP, D'Amato JD (1977) Locating corticospinal neurons by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Exp Neurol 56: 410–420
Humphrey DR, Corrie WS (1978) Properties of pyramidal tract neuron system within a functionally defined subregion of primate motor cortex. J Neurophysiol 41: 216–243
Jacobson S, Trojanowski JQ (1974) The cells of origin of the corpus callosum in rat, cat, and rhesus monkey. Brain Res 74: 149–155
Krieg WJS (1946) Connections of the cerebral cortex. I. The albino rat A. Topography of the cortical areas. J Comp Neurol 84: 221–275
Krieg WJS (1946b) Connections of the cerebral cortex. II. The albino rat B. Structures of the cortical areas. J Comp Neurol 84: 277–324
Kuypers HGJM, Bentivoglio M, Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Bharos AT (in press) Double retrograde neuronal labeling through divergent axon collaterals using two fluorescent tracers with the same excitation wavelength which label different features of the cell. Exp Brain Res
Kuypers HGJM, Bentivoglio M, Vanderkooy D, Catsman-Berrevoets CE (1979) Retrograde transport of bisbenzimide and propidium iodide through axons to their parent cell bodies. Neurosci Lett 12: 1–7
Kuypers HGJM, Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Padt RE (1977) Retrograde axonal transport of fluorescent substances in rat's forebrain. Neurosci Lett 6: 127–135
Shinoda Y, Arnold AP, Asanuma H (1976) Spinal branching of corticospinal axons in the cat. Exp Brain Res 26: 215–234
Shinoda Y, Zarzecki P, Asanuma H (1979) Spinal branching of pyramidal tract neurons in the monkey. Exp Brain Res 34: 59–73
Tsukahara N, Fuller DRS, Brooks VB (1968) Collateral pyramidal influences on the corticorubrospinal system. J Neurophysiol 31: 467–484
Vanderkooy D, Kuypers HGJM, Catsman-Berrevoets CE (1978) Single mammillary body cells with divergent axon collaterals. Demonstration by a simple fluorescent retrograde double labeling technique in the rat. Brain Res 158: 189–196
Waxman SG, Swadlow HA (1977) The conduction properties of axons in central white matter. Progr Neurobiol 8: 297–324
Welker C, Sinha MM (1972) Somatotopic organization of Sm II cerebral neocortex in albino rat. Brain Res 37: 132–136
Wise SP (1975) The laminar organization of certain afferents and efferent fiber systems in the rat somatosensory system. Brain Res 90: 139–142
Wise SP, Jones EG (1976) The organization and postnatal development of the commissural projection of the rat somatic sensory cortex. J Comp Neurol 168: 313–344
Wise SP, Jones EG (1977) Cells of origin and terminal distribution of descending projections of the rat somatic sensory cortex. J Comp Neurol 175: 129–158
Wise SP, Murray EA, Coulter JD (1979) Somatotopic organization of corticospinal and corticotrigeminal neurons in the rat. Neuroscience 4: 65–79
Zarzecki P, Shinoda Y, Asanuma H (1978) Projection from area 3a to the motor cortex by neurons activated from group I muscle afferents. Exp Brain Res 33: 269–282
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was in part supported by Grant 13-46-15 of the Fungo/ ZWO (Dutch Organization for Fundamental Research in Medicine)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catsman-Berrevoets, C.E., Lemon, R.N., Verburgh, C.A. et al. Absence of callosal collaterals derived from rat corticospinal neurons. Exp Brain Res 39, 433–440 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239308
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239308