Summary
Synaptic junctions are found in all parts of the nucleus, being almost as densely distributed between cell laminae as within these laminae.
In addition to the six classical cell laminae, two thin intercalated laminae have been found which lie on each side of lamina 1. These laminae contain small neurons embedded in a zone of small neural processes and many axo-axonal synapses occur there.
Three types of axon form synapses in all cell laminae and have been called RLP, RSD and F axons. RLP axons have large terminals which contain loosely packed round synaptic vesicles, RSD axons have small terminals which contain closely packed round vesicles and F axons have terminals intermediate in size containing many flattened vesicles.
RLP axons are identified as retinogeniculate fibers. Their terminals are confined to the cell laminae, where they form filamentous contacts upon large dendrites and asymmetrical regular synaptic contacts (with a thin postsynaptic opacity) upon large dendrites and F axons. RSD axons terminate within the cellular laminae and also between them. They form asymmetrical regular synaptic contacts on small dendrites and on F axons. F axons, which also occur throughout the nucleus, form symmetrical regular contacts upon all portions of the geniculate neurons and with other F axons. At axo-axonal junctions the F axon is always postsynaptic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beresford, W. A.: A Nauta and gallocyanin study of the cortico-lateral geniculate projection in the cat and monkey. J. Hirnforsch. 5, 210–228 (1962).
Bishop, P. O., Kozak, W., Levick, W. R., Vakkur, G. J.: The determination of the projection of the visual field on to the lateral geniculate nucleus in the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 163, 503–539 (1962).
Bodian, D.: Synaptic types on spinal montoneurons; an electron microscope study. Bull. Johns Hopk. Hosp. 119, 16–45 (1966).
Campos-Ortega, J. A., Glees, P., Neuhoff, V.: Ultrastructural analysis of individual layers in the lateral geniculate body of the monkey. Z. Zellforsch. 87, 82–100 (1968).
Chow, K. L., Dewson, J. H.: Numerical estimates of neurons and glia in lateral geniculate body during retrograde degeneration. J. comp. Neurol. 128, 63–74 (1966).
Colonnier, M.: Synaptic patterns on different cell types in the different laminae of the cat visual cortex. An electron microscope study. Brain Res. 9, 268–287 (1968).
—, Guillery, R. W.: Synaptic organization in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the monkey. Z. Zellforsch. 62, 333–355 (1964).
Glickstein, M.: Laminar structure of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in the tree shrew (Tupaia glis). J. comp. Neurol. 131, 93–102 (1967).
Gray, E. G.: Electron microscopy of excitatory and inhibitory synapses: A brief review. In: Mechanisms of synaptic transmission, p. 141–155 (eds. K. Akert and P. G. Waser). Progress in brain research, vol. 31. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1969.
—, Guillery, R. W.: Synaptic morphology in the normal and degenerating nervous system. Int. Rev. Cytol. 19, 111–182 (1966).
Guillery, R. W.: A study of Golgi preparations from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat. J. comp. Neurol. 128, 21–50 (1966).
—: Patterns of fiber degeneration in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat following lesions in the visual cortex. J. comp. Neurol. 130, 197–222 (1967a).
—: A light and electron microscopical study of neurofibrils and neurofilaments at neuroneuronal junctions in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Amer. J. Anat. 120, 583–606 (1967b).
—: The organization of synaptic interconnections in the laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Z. Zellforsch. 96, 1–38 (1969).
- The laminar distribution of retinal fibers in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat: a new interpretation. J. comp. Neurol. In Press (1970).
Hendrickson, A.: Electron microscopic radioautography: identification of origin of synaptic terminals in normal nervous tissue. Science 165, 194–196 (1969).
Kandel, E. R., Frazier, W. T., Waziri, R., Coggeshall, R. E.: Direct and common connections among identified neurons in Aplysia. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 1352–1376.
Karlsson, U.: Three-dimensional studies of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat. III. Specialized neuronal contacts in the neuropil. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 17, 137–157 (1967).
Larramendi, L. M. H., Fickenscher, L., Lemkey-Johnston, N.: Synaptic vesicles of inhibitory and excitatory terminals in the cerebellum. Science 156, 967–969 (1967).
McMahan, U. J.: Fine structure of synapses in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body of normal and blinded rats. Z. Zellforsch. 76, 116–146 (1967).
O'Leary, J. L., Smith, J. M., Tidwell, M., Harris, A. B.: Synapses in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the primate. Neurology (Minneap.) 15, 548–555 (1965).
Pecci Saavedra, J., Vaccarezza, O. L., Reader, T. A.: Ultrastructure of cells and synapses in the parvocellular portion of the cebus monkey lateral geniculate nucleus. Z. Zellforsch. 89, 462–477 (1968).
Peters, A., Palay, S. L.: The morphology of laminae A and A 1 of the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body of the cat. J. Anat. (Lond.) 100, 451–486 (1966).
Polyak, S.: The vertebrate visual system. Chicago: Chicago University Press 1957.
Ralston, H. J., III: The fine structure of neurons in the dorsal horn of the cat spinal cord. J. comp. Neurol. 132, 275–302 (1968).
—, Herman, M. M.: The fine structure of neurons and synapses in the ventrobasal thalamus of the cat. Brain Res. 14, 77–97 (1969).
Szentágothai, J.: The structure of the synapse in the lateral geniculate body. Acta anat. (Basel) 55, 166–185 (1963).
—: The use of degeneration methods in the investigation of short neuronal connections. In: Degeneration patterns in the nervous system, p. 1–32 (eds. M. Singer and J. P. Schadé). Progress in brain research, vol. 14. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964.
—, Hámori, J., Tömböl, T.: Degeneration and electron microscope analysis of the synaptic glomeruli in the lateral geniculate body. Exp. Brain Res. 2, 283–301 (1966).
Taboada, R. P.: Note sur la structure du corps genouillé externe. Trab. Lab. Invest. biol. Univ. Madrid 25, 319–329 (1927).
Uchizono, K.: Characteristics of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the central nervous system of the cat. Nature (Lond.) 207, 642–643 (1965).
Walberg, F.: Elongated vesicles in terminal boutons of the central nervous system, a result of aldehyde fixation. Acta anat. (Basel) 65, 224–235 (1966).
Walls, G. L.: The lateral geniculate nucleus and visual histophysiology. Univ. Calif. Publ. Physiol. 9, No 1, 1–100 (1953).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by Grant R 01 NB 06662 from the USPHS and by funds of the Neurological Sciences Group of the Medical Research Council of Canada. Most of the observations were made while R. W. Guillery was a visiting professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Montreal. We thank the Department of Physiology for their support and Mr. K. Watkins, Mrs. E. Langer and Mrs. B. Yelk for their skillful technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guillery, R.W., Colonnier, M. Synaptic patterns in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the monkey. Z. Zellforsch. 103, 90–108 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335403
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335403