Efferent projections of the anteromedial cortex of the rat as described by Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin immunohistochemistry.
Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) immunohistochemistry was used to describe the corticofugal projections of the anteromedial cortex (AMC) of rats. PHA-L was injected iontophoretically into an area of the AMC which, when stimulated electrically, is known to induce contraversive head and body movements. It was found that the AMC innervates the midbrain via three separate pathways: a dorsal transthalamic pathway terminating in the pretectum, superior colliculus, and central grey area; and a ventral transthalamic pathway and a ventral capsular-peduncular pathway projecting to the central grey and mesencephalic and pontine reticular formation. The strongest terminations were found bilaterally in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus and nucleus caudato-putamen. The functional significance of the pathways and terminations is discussed.
Tehovnik
E J
EJ
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Spence
S J
SJ
Saint-Cyr
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005133:Eye Movements; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D051381:Rats; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins