Topography, cytoarchitecture, and cellular phenotypes of cortical areas that form the cingulo-parahippocampal isthmus and adjoining retrocalcarine areas in the monkey.

The monkey cingulo-parahippocampal isthmus was identified recently in the depths and lateral bank of the anterior calcarine fissure but was not characterized fully. Cytoarchitectonic and immunohistochemical results presented here reveal that the isthmus is composed of four cortical areas. These include the presubiculum of the isthmus (PrSi), parasubiculum of the isthmus (PaSi), area 29 of the isthmus (area 29i) and area prostriata (Pro), which has anterior (Pro-a) and posterior (Pro-p) divisions. The PrSi, characterized by dense calbindin+ (CB+) neuropil in layer III, merges with area 29i at approximately the middle portion of the isthmus; the latter lacking the CB+ neuropil. The PaSi, characterized by a cell-free lamina dissecans and light parvalbumin+ labeling, is observed in the ventral isthmus. The Pro, located posterior to area 29i and PaSi, and anterior to area 17, has an incipient layer IV, but the density of granule cells gradually increase toward area 17. Pro-a has an incipient layer IV, contains few SMI-32+ neurons, and adjoins area 30 dorsally. The latter also has an incipient layer IV but contains, in contrast, more SMI-32+ neurons. Pro-p has a clear but thin layer IV, contains a small number of SMI-32+ neurons, and adjoins both area 23 and area 18 dorsally and area 18 ventrally. Compared with Pro-p, area 23 contains many more SMI-32+ neurons, whereas area 18 contains far more SMI-32+ neurons. These findings reveal that the isthmus is a key cortical zone connecting both the cingulate and parahippocampal gyri, but also the limbic and visual cortices. Emphasizing the former only, which has been the tendency historically, underestimates the anatomic complexity of the isthmus, and likely, its functional correlates.