Role of the pulvinar-lateral posterior nucleus complex in turning behavior

Projections from cingulate cortex to the cat’s thalamic reticular nucleus

The cingulate cortex (CG) and the adjacent region designated as the splenial visual area (SVA) project to areas of the extrageniculate thalamic system that are concerned with processing visual information. En route to the thalamus, they pass through the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), an important source of thalamic inhibition. We wished to determine whether SVA axon collaterals projected to the previously defined visual sector of the TRN or a separate projection zone and did this differ from the projection zone of CG. We iontophoretically injected different neuroanatomical tracers into several locations within CG/SVA and traced the labeled axons through the TRN. The CG and SVA have a projection zone that only partially overlaps the dorsorostral regions of the visuocortical projection zone; there was no evidence to suggest separate SVA and CG zones or tiers of label within the TRN. The projection formed only a weak topographic map in the TRN, which is largely defined in the rostrocaudal axis and is similar to that of the area 7 projection; both projections have a high degree of overlap in the dorsal TRN. We postulate that CG/SVA may be involved in the initiation of orientation behaviors via stimulation of thalamic nuclei and attentional mechanisms of the TRN.

Output pathway for turning behavior from the neostriatum and substantia nigra in cats

The goal of the present work was to study the output pathway of the information for turning behavior originating in the striatum and coursing through the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR). In 45 adult cats distributed in 3 groups, Ni-Cr electrodes were implanted in the caudate nucleus and substantia nigra pars reticulata and depending on the animal group in the superior colliculus (SC), nucleus ventralis lateralis/nucleus ventralis medialis (VL/VM) complex or nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus (TPP) of one cerebral hemisphere. The threshold current required to evoke turning behavior was determined in each animal for each implantation site. An electrolytic lesion of the superior colliculus, the VL/VM complex or the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus was carried out in each group of cats. The effects of the lesions on behavior and on the electrical threshold currents were determined and compared with the prelesion values. Finally the extent of the lesions and electrode positions were analyzed. The results show that the substantia nigra pars reticulata is the structure with the lowest thresholds for turning and that the superior colliculus appears to be more relevant for carrying the information for turning than either the VL/VM complex or the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus.

Study of the morphological, electrophysiological and behavioral effects of unilateral kainic acid injection into the cat's substantia nigra

Morphological, electrophysiological and behavioral studies were carried out in cats after unilateral kainic acid injection in the substantia nigra. A forced contralateral head turning and compulsive circling was observed after surgery. Fifteen days after, when asymmetry disappeared, apomorphine induced an ipsilateral head and body turning, that was blocked by haloperidol. The percentage of turning, after electrical stimulation in the superior colliculus or pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex, was affected by substantia nigra lesion. This work demonstrates that the nigro-pulvinar-lateral posterior and the nigrotectal projection modulate the capability of electrical stimulation of the target structures to elicit turning, and after unilateral substantia nigra lesion, two opposite directions of asymmetry appear, which are time-dependent and modulated by different neurotransmitters.

Connections of the parahippocampal cortex in the cat. III. Cortical and thalamic efferents

To study the distribution of the cortical and thalamic efferent projections from the parahippocampal cortex in the cat, a series of injections of anterogradely transported radioactively labeled amino acids were placed in different parts of the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. Subsequently, some of the identified cortical and thalamic target areas were injected with retrograde tracers such as wheat germ-agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) or with a fluorescent tracer--fast blue or nuclear yellow--in order to disclose the laminar origin of the parahippocampal efferent projections. The results indicate that the parahippocampal cortex gives rise to widespread projections to the association cortex, and, to a lesser extent, sends fibers to the limbic cortex and the primary sensory cortex. These projections arise mainly from the deep layers of the parahippocampal cortex and terminate predominantly in superficial layers of the cortex, with a preference for layer I. Within the cortical projections a medial-to-lateral topography could be observed such that the entorhinal cortex projects predominantly to the allocortical and periallocortical limbic areas, including parts of the subicular complex, the ventral retrosplenial and the infralimbic cortices, and olfactory related areas--i.e., the olfactory bulb, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the prepiriform cortex, and the ventral tenia tecta. The more lateral parts of the parahippocampal cortex, which surround the posterior rhinal sulcus, project in addition to extensive parts of the paralimbic association cortex that include the proisocortical cingular, prelimbic, orbitofrontal, and agranular and granular insular cortices. The most lateral portion of the parahippocampal cortex, the perirhinal cortex, furthermore issues projections to widespread neocortical areas on the lateral and medial aspects of the hemisphere that constitute part of the parasensory association cortex. Weak-to-moderate projections are found to the cortex of the middle suprasylvian and anterior ectosylvian sulci, as well as the cruciate and splenial sulci, all of which have been reported to constitute sensory convergence areas. The most marked projections from the perirhinal cortex reach a zone of neocortex directly lateral to the perirhinal cortex including ventral parts of the posterior sylvian, posterior ectosylvian, posterior suprasylvian, and lateral gyri. These projections appear to be topographically organized such that rostral parts of the perirhinal cortex project more rostrally, and more caudal parts of the perirhinal cortex project to more caudal parts of this cortical zone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Connections of the anterior ectosylvian visual area (AEV)

We have previously described a visual area situated in the cortex surrounding the deep infolding of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus of the cat (Mucke et al. 1982). Using orthograde and retrograde transport methods we now report anatomical evidence that this anterior ectosylvian visual area (AEV) is connected with a substantial number of both cortical and subcortical regions. The connections between AEV and other cortical areas are reciprocal and, at least in part, topographically organized: the rostral AEV is connected with the bottom region of the presylvian sulcus, the lower bank of the cruciate sulcus, the rostral part of the ventral bank of the splenial sulcus, the rostral portion of the lateral suprasylvian visual area (LS) and the lateral bank of the posterior rhinal sulcus; the caudal AEV is connected with the bottom region of the presylvian sulcus, the caudal part of LS, the ventral part of area 20 and the lateral bank of the posterior rhinal sulcus. Subcortically, AEV has reciprocal connections with the ventral medial thalamic nucleus (VM), with the medial part of the lateralis posterior nucleus (LPm), as well as with the lateralis medialis-suprageniculate nuclear (LM-Sg) complex. These connections are also topographically organized with more rostral parts of AEV being related to more ventral portions of the LPm and LM-Sg complex. AEV also projects to the caudate nucleus, the putamen, the lateral amygdaloid nucleus, the superior colliculus, and the pontine nuclei. It is concluded that AEV is a visual association area which functionally relates the visual with both the motor and the limbic system and that it might play a role in the animal's orienting and alerting behavior.

Enhancement of optokinetic responses by lateral hypothalamic areas associated with attack in cats

Stimulation of lateral hypothalamic sites associated with predatory attack and known to modify trigeminal reflex systems enhanced efficiency of visual following over a wide range of target velocities. Furthermore, lateral hypothalamic stimulation reversed reflex habituation seen after continuous and after repeated optokinetic stimulation. These findings support the hypothesis that the lateral hypothalamus directs behavioral responses relevant to orienting to and capturing prey, at least in part, by regulation of reflex mechanisms in different sensory modalities. Possible neural substrates for the observed effects are discussed.

Rotational behavior following cholinergic stimulation of the superior colliculus in rats

Rate which received microinjections of carbachol into the superior colliculus exhibited pronounced dose-dependent rotational behavior contralateral to the site of injection (Experiment 1). Wet dog shakes were also observed in some animals. Similar injections in the midbrain reticular formation produced immobility with slight contralateral flexion of the neck. Convulsions were observed in some rats after injections into either anatomical location. In Experiment 2, circling induced by carbachol in the superior colliculus was blocked by prior injection of either the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine or the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine, suggesting that both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors are involved in the effect. In Experiment 3 contralateral rotational behavior was induced by intracollicular microinjections of the combination of acetylcholine chloride and physostigmine. The results suggest that collicular mediation of contralateral rotational behavior, and perhaps orientation, might involve cholinergic receptors.

Rotational behavior in the cat induced by electrical stimulation of the pulvinar-lateralis posterior nucleus complex: role of the cholinergic system

We studied the involvement of the cholinergic system in the contralateral head-eye-body turning induced in the cat through stimulation of the pulvinar-lateralis posterior nucleus complex (P-LP). In 17 cats through a cannula aimed at the P-LP, agonists and antagonists of the cholinergic system were injected. The electrical activity of the P-LP could be recorded through the same cannula or through electrodes attached to it. In addition, electrodes were implanted ipsilaterally in the dorsal hippocampus, caudate nucleus, amygdala, and superior colliculus to record through them and through one screw placed on the skull the electrical activity of those structures and of the cortical P-LP projection. Seven days after surgery, carbachol, an agonist of the cholinergic system was injected in the P-LP, and the behavior and electrical activity of the unrestrained cat (previously accustomed to a plastic cage) were recorded. A control volume of 0.9% NaCl was always injected previously. The usual drug volume injected was 1 microliter; occasionally, 2 microliter were injected. Weekly or biweekly sessions were conducted to determine (a) the threshold for cholinergic activation, (b) the threshold for turning behavior, (c) the blocking effect of local atropine sulfate injected previously, (d) the effect of haloperidol previously injected (locally or systemically), and (e) the effect of dioxolane, an exclusive muscarinic agonist. In 14 of 17 cats, contralateral turning behavior was evoked by carbachol. In two of the three cats that did not respond to carbachol, dioxolane induced turning. The effect of dioxolane was similar to that of carbachol when tried in five cats. Besides turning behavior, carbachol produced numerous symptoms due to cholinergic activation. Atropine blocked the rotational effect of carbachol in all cats, and haloperidol blocked it in 68% of them. Electrolytic coagulation of the dorsal hippocampus surrounding the P-LP did not disturb the effects induced by carbachol. These experiments show that both systems of the P-LP, cholinergic and catecholaminergic, are involved in the contralateral turning. We conclude that the effect induced by carbachol is due to activation of muscarinic receptors because it is totally blocked by local atropine sulfate and is reproduced by dioxolane, an exclusive muscarinic agonist.