Topographical projections from the posterior thalamic regions to the striatum in the cat, with reference to possible tecto-thalamo-striatal connections.

Projections from the posterior thalamic regions to the striatum were studied in the cat by the anterograde tracing method after injecting wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (WGA-HRP) into the caudalmost regions of the lateroposterior thalamic nucleus (caudal LP), suprageniculate nucleus (Sg) and magnocellular division of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGm). The results were further confirmed by the retrograde tracing method after injecting WGA-HRP into the regions of the caudate nucleus (Cd) and putamen (Put) where afferent fibers from the caudal LP, Sg and MGm were distributed. Fibers from the MGm, Sg or caudal LP were distributed mainly in the medial, middle or lateral part of the caudal half of the putamen (caudal Put), respectively. Although there was a considerable overlap, thalamostriatal fibers from the caudal LP terminated more caudally than those from the MGm. On the other hand, thalamocaudate fibers from the MGm, Sg and lateral part of the caudal LP overlapped with each other in the ventrolateral part of the caudal half of the caudate nucleus (caudal Cd). Fibers from the medial part of the caudal LP were distributed in the ventral part of the caudal Cd. In the superior colliculus (SC) of the cats with WGA-HRP injections in the caudal LP, retrogradely labeled neuronal cell bodies were mainly seen ipsilaterally in the superficial SC layer, and simultaneously, anterogradely labeled axon terminals were observed in the striatum. On the other hand, when WGA-HRP was injected into the Sg or MGm, labeled SC neurons were mainly located in the intermediate and deep SC layers. Thus, ascending impulses from the superficial SC layer may possibly be conveyed ipsilaterally via the caudal LP to the ventral and ventrolateral parts of the caudal Cd and the lateral part of the caudal Put, whereas those from the intermediate and deep SC layers may be relayed via the Sg and/or MGm to the ventrolateral part of the caudal Cd and the middle and medial parts of the caudal Put.