SUBCORTICAL AFFERENT CONNECTIONS OF THE CENTRAL LATERAL NUCLEUS OF THALAMUS IN THE CAT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The afferent connections and topographical organization of the central lateral nucleus were studied with HRP retrograde tracing technique in 10 adult cats. The central lateral nucleus received projections from the forebrain, brainstem and cerebellum. The nuclei, projected to the caudal region of the central lateral nucleus, included the dorsal division of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, the thalamic reticular nucleus and the deep layers of superior colliculus, primarily on the ipsilateral side. The intralaminar thalamic nucleus, the lateral hypothalamus and the reticular part of substantia nigra sent axons to terminate in the rostral region of the central lateral nucleus, with an ipsilateral predominance. The nuclei, projected to the whole length of the central lateral nucleus, were the vestibular neuclei, the reticular formation of brainstem, zona incerta, pretectal area, cells surrounding the occulomotor complex, principal sensory trigeminal, cuneatus, gracilis as well as cerebellar dentate. The vestibular nuclei and the reticular formation of brainstem were found bilateral projection, the former predominantly in contralateral, the latter mainly in ipsilateral part. Except the zona incerta, pretectal area and cells surrounding the occulomotor, the rest were labeled primarily on the contralateral side. If HRP was injected into the central lateral nucleus and spread to the ventral anterior nucleus of thalamus, a lot of HRP-positive cells were found in the entopeduncular nucleus, while the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden was filled with densely labeled terminals mainly on the ipsilateral side. These findings indicate that the central lateral nucleus of thalamus may be involved multiple sensory and motor functions.