title: Columnar projections from the cholinergic nucleus isthmi to the optic tectum in chicks (Gallus gallus): a possible substrate for synchronizing tectal channels.
abstract: The cholinergic division of the avian nucleus isthmi, the homolog of the mammalian nucleus parabigeminalis, is composed of the pars parvocellularis (Ipc) and pars semilunaris (SLu). Ipc and SLu were studied with in vivo and in vitro tracing and intracellular filling methods. 1) Both nuclei have reciprocal homotopic connections with the ipsilateral optic tectum. The SLu connection is more diffuse than that of Ipc. 2) Tectal inputs to Ipc and SLu are Brn3a-immunoreactive neurons in the inner sublayer of layer 10. Tectal neurons projecting on Ipc possess "shepherd's crook" axons and radial dendritic fields in layers 2-13. 3) Neurons in the mid-portion of Ipc possess a columnar spiny dendritic field. SLu neurons have a large, nonoriented spiny dendritic field. 4) Ipc terminals form a cylindrical brush-like arborization (35-50 microm wide) in layers 2-10, with extremely dense boutons in layers 3-6, and a diffuse arborization in layers 11-13. SLu neurons terminate in a wider column (120-180 microm wide) lacking the dust-like boutonal features of Ipc and extend in layers 4c-13 with dense arborizations in layers 4c, 6, and 9-13. 5) Ipc and SLu contain specialized fast potassium ion channels. We propose that dense arborizations of Ipc axons may be directed to the distal dendritic bottlebrushes of motion detecting tectal ganglion cells (TGCs). They may provide synchronous activation of a group of adjacent bottlebrushes of different TGCs of the same type via their intralaminar processes, and cross channel activation of different types of TGCs within the same column of visual space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0608, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luksch
authors.forename: Nicholas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Brecha
authors.forename: Harvey J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Karten
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002645:Chickens; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003336:Tectum Mesencephali / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology*; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; C076397:biotinylated dextran amine; C100156:leukoagglutinins, plants; D001710:Biotin; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine