Segregation of parallel inputs to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei of the rat
Citation:
Wright, N, Vann, SD, Erichsen, J, O'Mara, SM & Aggleton, JP, Segregation of parallel inputs to the anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei of the rat, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 521, 13, 2013, 2966 2986Download Item:
Wright et al. J Comp Neurol in press 2013.pdf (Published (publisher's copy)) 2.648Mb
Abstract:
Many brain structures project to both the anteroven
tral thalamic nucleus and the
anteromedial thalamic nucleus. In the present stud
y, pairs of different tracers were
placed into these two thalamic sites in the same rats to determine the extent to which
these nuclei receive segregated inputs. Only input
s from the laterodorsal tegmental
nucleus, the principal extrinsic cholinergic source
for these thalamic nuclei, showed a
marked degree of collateralisation, with approximat
ely 13% of all cells labelled in this
tegmental area projecting to both nuclei. Elsewher
e, double labelled cells were very
scarce, comprising ~1% of all labelled cells. Three
general patterns of anterior
thalamic innervation were detected in these other a
reas. In some sites, e.g., prelimbic
cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and secondary mo
tor area, cells projecting to the
anteromedial and anteroventral thalamic nuclei were
closely intermingled, with often
only subtle distribution differences. These same pr
ojections were also often
intermingled with inputs to the mediodorsal thalami
c nucleus, but again there was
little or no collaterisation. In other sites, e.g.,
the subiculum and retrosplenial cortex,
there was often less overlap of cells projecting to
the two anterior thalamic nuclei. A
third pattern related to the dense inputs from the
medial mammillary nucleus, where
well defined topographies ensured little intermingling of the neurons that innervate
the two thalamic nuclei. The finding, that a very
small minority of cortical and limbic
inputs bifurcate to innervate both anterior thalami
c nuclei, highlights the potential for
parallel information streams to control their functions, despite arising from common
regions.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Wellcome Trust
092480.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/smomaraDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: O'MARA, SHANE
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of Comparative Neurology521
13
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
cingulate cortex, hippocampusSubject (TCD):
Neuroscience , Behavioral/Experimental PsychologyDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.23325Licences: