Summary
An experimental study has been made of the afferent connections of the motor cortex of the monkey from the thalamus, contralateral motor cortex and ipsilateral somatic sensory and pre-motor areas using the electron microscope. The terminals from all these sites have asymmetric membrane specializations. The majority of the terminals from each site end on dendritic spines, probably of pyramidal cells, and a proportion end on the dendrites or somata of large stellate cells. The different laminar terminations are described and it was found that the thalamo-cortical terminals are also related to bundles of apical dendrites in the main laminae of their termination.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cajal, S. R. Y. (1909–1911)Histologie du Système nerveux de l'Homme et des Vertébrés, Vol. II. Paris: Maloine.
Colonnier, M. (1968) Synaptic patterns on different cell types in the different laminae of the cat visual cortex.Brain Research 9, 268–87.
Fifkova, E. (1970) The effect of monocular deprivation on the synaptic contacts of the visual cortex.Journal of Neurobiology 1, 285–94.
Garey, L. J. andPowell, T. P. S. (1971) An experimental study of the termination of the lateral geniculo-cortical pathway in the cat and monkey.Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 179, 41–63.
Gray, E. G. (1969) Electron microscopy of excitatory and inhibitory synapses: a brief review.Progress in Brain Research 31, 141–55.
Jones, E. G. andPowell, T. P. S. (1969) Connections of the somatic sensory cortex of the rhesus monkey. I. Ipsilateral cortical connections.Brain 92, 477–502.
Jones, E. G. andPowell, T. P. S. (1970a) Electron microscopy of the somatic sensory cortex of the cat. I. Cell types and synaptic organization.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Series B 257, 1–11.
Jones, E. G. andPowell, T. P. S. (1970b) An electron microscopic study of terminal degeneration in the neocortex of the cat.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Series B 257, 29–43.
Jones, E. G. andPowell, T. P. S. (1970c) An electron microscopic study of the laminar pattern and mode of termination of afferent fibre pathways in the somatic sensory cortex of the cat.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Series B 257, 45–62.
Pandya, N. andKuypers, H. G. J. (1969) Cortico-coitical connections in the rhesus monkey.Brain Research 13, 13–36.
Pandya, N. andVignolo, L. A. (1971) Intra and interhemispheric projections of the precentral, premotor and arcuate areas in the rhesus monkey.Brain Research 26, 217–33.
Peters, A. andWalsh, T. M. (1972) A study of the organisation of apical dendrites in the somatic sensory cortex of the rat.Journal of Comparative Neurology 144, 253–68.
Sloper, J. J. (1973) An electron microscopic study of the neurones of the motor and somatic sensory cortices.Journal of Neurocytology 2, 351–9.
Walker, A. E. (1938)The Primate Thalamus. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Wiitanen, J. T. (1969) Selective silver impregnation of degenerating axons and axon terminals in the central nervous system of the monkey (Macaca mulatta).Brain Research 14, 546–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sloper, J.J. An electron microscope study of the termination of afferent connections to the primate motor cortex. J Neurocytol 2, 361–368 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103794
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103794