Callosal connections of dorsal versus ventral premotor areas in the macaque monkey: a multiple retrograde tracing study.
BACKGROUND
The lateral premotor cortex plays a crucial role in visually guided limb movements. It is divided into two main regions, the dorsal (PMd) and ventral (PMv) areas, which are in turn subdivided into functionally and anatomically distinct rostral (PMd-r and PMv-r) and caudal (PMd-c and PMv-c) sub-regions. We analyzed the callosal inputs to these premotor subdivisions following 23 injections of retrograde tracers in eight macaque monkeys. In each monkey, 2-4 distinct tracers were injected in different areas allowing direct comparisons of callosal connectivity in the same brain.


RESULTS
Based on large injections covering the entire extent of the corresponding PM area, we found that each area is strongly connected with its counterpart in the opposite hemisphere. Callosal connectivity with the other premotor areas, the primary motor cortex, prefrontal cortex and somatosensory cortex varied from one area to another. The most extensive callosal inputs terminate in PMd-r and PMd-c, with PMd-r strongly connected with prefrontal cortex. Callosal inputs to PMv-c are more extensive than those to PMv-r, whose connections are restricted to its counterpart area. Quantitative analysis of labelled cells confirms these general findings, and allows an assessment of the relative strength of callosal inputs.


CONCLUSIONS
PMd-r and PMv-r receive their strongest callosal inputs from their respective counterpart areas, whereas PMd-c and PMv-c receive strong inputs from heterotopic areas as well (namely from PMd-r and PMv-r, respectively). Finally, PMd-r stands out as the lateral premotor area with the strongest inputs from the prefrontal cortex, and only the PMd-c and PMv-c receive weak callosal inputs from M1.
Boussaoud
Driss
D
Institut de Neurosciences Cognitives de la Méditerranée, INCM, UMR 6193, CNRS, Université de la Méditerranée, 31 Ch. Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France. driss.boussaoud@incm.cnrs-mrs.fr
Tanné-Gariépy
Judith
J
Wannier
Thierry
T
Rouiller
Eric M
EM
D000818:Animals; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes