Cytoarchitecture of the tectum opticum in the Japanese quail.

The cytoarchitecture of the optic tectum of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, was studied using the Golgi-Kopsch method, parvalbumin, calbindin and GABA immunohistochemistry and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemistry. Our results reveal a large number of different types of interneurons in the quail tectum opticum, only part of which are described in the chick or pigeon. Application of parvalbumin and calbindin immunohistochemistry and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemistry reveals the following lamination pattern: The stratum opticum, stratum griseum centrale and stratum album centrale remain unstained, while the laminae of the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale exhibit a roughly complementary staining pattern of calbindin (laminae c, d, e, f, g, i) and parvalbumin (laminae a, h, i). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemistry yields a dense band in lamina i. The Golgi material reveals the following cell types in the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale: marginal cells in the stratum opticum and in lamina h and i, horizontal cells in laminae a and c, large and small radial cells in laminae b, d, h and i, multiform cells in lamina b, bitufted cells in lamina d and e, large pear-shaped cells in lamina g, wide-field cells in lamina j, and stellate cells in lamina j and in the stratum griseum centrale. We consider horizontal cells, bitufted cells, multiform cells and small radial cells to be GABAergic interneurons of the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale which seem to be more numerous than in the pigeon tectum opticum. Golgi impregnation and injection of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin into the pretectal nucleus lentiformis yielded regularly distributed clusters of telodendra of pretectal axons in lamina d of the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale, which are identical in shape and position with axon plexus revealed by Golgi staining.

Sources of direct excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the medial rhombencephalic tegmentum to lateral and medial rectus motoneurons in the cat.

The paramedian pontine and bulbar tegmentum was explored by microstimulation to outline the sites of origin of direct excitatory and inhibitory inputs to lateral rectus (LR) and medial rectus (MR) motoneurons (MNs). In order to avoid activation of fibers of passage and axon reflexes originating outside the stimulation sites, experiments were carried out 4--22 days after brain stem transections causing degeneration of vestibulo-ocular pathways. Additionally, in some experiments the paramedian tegmentum was isolated from the contralateral side by midline transections. Mapping of stimulus sites from which monosynaptic EPSPs and IPSPs were elicited brought out the following preoculomotor reticular regions: 1. LR-MNs received monosynaptic IPSPs from the contralateral reticular formation corresponding to Nucl. reticularis points caudalis (R.p.c.) and the rostral part of Nucl. reticularis gigantocellularis (R.gc.). 2. Monosynaptic inhibitory input to MR-MNs could only be demonstrated after degeneration of excitatory pathways ascending from the internuclear neurons of the VIth nucleus and from the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. Monosynaptic IPSPs originated in the ipsilateral dorso-medial tegmentum through the entire extent of the Nucl. reticularis pontis oralis and rostral R.p.c. including the region of the ipsilateral VIth nucleus. 3. Monosynaptic excitation of LR-MNs was induced by stimulation of the ipsilateral R.p.c. and the rostral half of the paramedian bulbar tegmentum (R.gc.). 4. The sites from which monosynaptic EPSPs were evoked in MR-MNs were confined to the contralateral VIth nucleus and its immediate vicinity. No evidence could be obtained for direct excitatory inputs to MR-MNs from the ipsilateral paramedian tegmentum. It is concluded that the paramedian rhombencephalic reticular formation contains four pools of premotor neurons related to coordination of conjugate horizontal eye movements. Two of them are excitatory for LR- and MR-MNs with ipsilateral ON-directions, the other two mediate reciprocal inhibition of the antagonistic motor nuclei.

Electroanatomy of tectal efferent connections related to eye movements in the horizontal plane.

1. Excitatory and inhibitory oligosynaptic pathways from the superior colliculus (CS) to ocular motoneurons engaged in horizontal eye movements were investigated in cats using acute and chronic brain stem transections in combination with intracellular recordings. 2. Isolation of the medial ponto-bulbar tegmentum from vestibular nuclei and adjacent lateral tegmental structures did not impair short-latency EPSPs and IPSPs induced by collicular stimulation in lateral rectus motoneurons (LR-MNs). On the contrary, responses were enhanced after chronic de-efferentation of vestibular nuclei. This suggests compensatory synaptic rearrangement in the tecto-reticulo-abducens pathways. 3. Midsagittal mesencephalic transections eliminated not only crossed excitatory but also ipsilateral inhibitory CS action on LR-MNs indicating that underlying pathways undergo decussation within the midbrain. 4. Midsagittal transections at different pontine and bulbar levels were performed to locate the second decussation of the inhibitory pathway. Ipsilateral IPSPs were eliminated only by deep lesions extending for about 1.5 mm rostral and caudal to the 6th nuclei. 5. Investigation of medial rectus motoneurons (MR-MNs) revealed two types of excitatory responses to CS-stimulation: (a) di- or trisynaptic EPSPs characterized by a fast rising phase and pronounced frequency potentiation; (b) slowly rising EPSPs displaying little or no frequency potentiation. 'Fast' EPSPs were abolished by all types of pontine lesions interrupting transmission through the contralateral 'abducens region' and may thus be relayed by internuclear neurons within or adjacent to the 6th nucleus. 'Slow' EPSPs persisted after transverse sections at midpontine and rostral pontine levels. 6. The trajectory of tectofugal inhibitory pathway to MR-MNs could not be followed due to a marked suppression of IPSPs under pentobarbital anesthesia. Persistence of IPSPs in LR-MNs under same conditions indicated that reciprocal inhibition of LR- and MR-MNs is mediated by different populations of inhibitory interneurons.