Segregation of short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone signals in the macaque dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.
An important problem in the study of the mammalian visual system is whether functionally different retinal ganglion cell types are anatomically segregated further up along the central visual pathway. It was previously demonstrated that, in a New World diurnal monkey (marmoset), the neurones carrying signals from the short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cones [blue-yellow (B/Y)-opponent cells] are predominantly located in the koniocellular layers of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), whereas the red-green (R/G)-opponent cells carrying signals from the medium- and long-wavelength-sensitive cones are segregated in the parvocellular layers. Here, we used extracellular single-unit recordings followed by histological reconstruction to investigate the distribution of color-selective cells in the LGN of the macaque, an Old World diurnal monkey. Cells were classified using cone-isolating stimuli to identify their cone inputs. Our results indicate that the majority of cells carrying signals from S-cones are located either in the koniocellular layers or in the 'koniocellular bridges' that fully or partially span the parvocellular layers. By contrast, the R/G-opponent cells are located in the parvocellular layers. We conclude that anatomical segregation of B/Y- and R/G-opponent afferent signals for color vision is common to the LGNs of New World and Old World diurnal monkeys.
Roy
Sujata
S
Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
Jayakumar
Jaikishan
J
Martin
Paul R
PR
Dreher
Bogdan
B
Saalmann
Yuri B
YB
Hu
Daping
D
Vidyasagar
Trichur R
TR
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003116:Color; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000166:cytology* / Q000293:injuries; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012858:Size Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology
D004573:Electrolytes