AFFERENT CONNECTIONS OF THE DORSOMEDIAL NUCLEUS OF THE THALAMUS IN THE RAT WITH WGA-HRP METHOD / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

WGA-HRP was injected into different segment of the dorsomedial nucleus (DM) of thalamus by means of microiontophoretical delivery in 19 rats to observe the afferent projections of DM. It is found that the DM received afferent projections widely from the frontal cortex, basal telecephalon, limbic system, monoaminergic neuron, reticular formation, central gray matter and superior colliculus. Furthermore, some topographical organization has also been observed. The medial segment of DM received afferent projections mainly from dorsal agranular insular cortex, infralimbic cortex, amygdaloid complex, septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and raphe nuclei, related with the function of the limbic system. The central segment of DM received afferent projections from the dorsal agranular insular cortex and the prepiriform cortex, also related with the function of the limbic system. The lateral segment of DM received afferent projections mainly from the medial precentral cortex, dorsal division of anterior cingulate cortex, E-W nucleus and superior colliculus, related with the function of eye movement. In addition, all the three segments of DM received numerous afferents from the substantia innominata, nucleus tractus diagonalis (Broca), lateral preoptic area and reticular nucleus of the thalamus.