title: Mapping synaptic cortico-claustral connectivity in the mouse.
abstract: The claustrum is an intriguing brain structure, featuring the highest connectivity per regional volume in the brain. It is a thin and elongated structure enclosed between the striatum and the insular cortex, with widespread reciprocal connections with the sensory modalities and prefrontal cortices. Retinotopic and somatotopic organizations have been described in the claustrum, and anatomical studies in cats, monkeys, and rats have demonstrated topographic organization of cortico-claustral connections. In this study we mapped the projections from cortical modalities (visual, auditory, somatosensory, motor, and olfactory), and prefrontal regions (anterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex) to the claustrum in mice. Utilizing expression of a virally encoded synaptic anterograde tracer, AAV-SynaptoTag, followed by 3D reconstruction of the cortical projections, we performed a comprehensive study of the organization of these projections within the mouse claustrum. Our results clearly demonstrate a dorsoventral laminar organization of projections from the sensory cortices to the claustrum, whereas frontal inputs are more extensive and overlap with the inputs from the sensory cortices. In addition, we find evidence supporting a core/shell organization of the claustrum. We propose that the overlap between the frontal inputs and the inputs from the sensory modalities may underlie executive regulation of the communication between the claustrum and the cortical modalities. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1381-1402, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Gal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terem
authors.affiliation: Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peretz-Rivlin
authors.affiliation: Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groysman
authors.affiliation: Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel.|Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Citri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: RRID: AB_221570; anterograde tracing; association cortices; dorsoventral organization; sensory modalities