Winer J A, Morest D K
J Comp Neurol. 1983 Nov 20;221(1):1-30. doi: 10.1002/cne.902210102.
The neurons in the nuclei of the dorsal division of the medial geniculate body were studied with the rapid Golgi method in kittens and young adult cats. The dorsal nuclei contain two principal cell types: a large stellate neuron with radiate dendrites and a bushy neuron with tufted dendrites, each with extensive dendritic fields. Two sizes of cells with locally arborizing axons (local circuit neurons) were found. The small and commonly observed one is stellate in shape, has a limited dendritic domain, and an axon with multiple, often profuse collaterals ending in the vicinity of the cell. A second, and much less common variety (large local circuit neuron) is somewhat larger and has fewer axon collaterals. Subtle, but distinct variations in these cell types distinguish the deep and superficial dorsal nuclei and also the anterior tier of nuclei (deep dorsal and superficial). These functional differences may correlate with the relative morphological homogeneity of the ventral nucleus compared to the extremely heterogeneous medial division. The dorsal division should be regarded as part of the pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex both structurally and functionally. In the suprageniculate nucleus, the principal neurons are stellate cells with large perikarya and numerous and extensive dendrites covered with appendages. The large axon is devoid of collaterals. A small local circuit cell with several axon collaterals, and sparse, restricted dendrites has also been observed. In the adjacent posterior limitans nucleus, the principal neuron has a medium-sized, piriform or somewhat elongated perikaryon, a few very long radiating dendrites, which may span the depth of the nucleus, and a long, poorly branched axon. Small neurons are also seen here. A comparison of the structure, connections, and function of the medial geniculate body suggests that the dorsal division is predominantly, but probably not exclusively auditory, while the ventral nucleus is entirely auditory and relatively homogeneous, and the medial division, polymodal and heterogeneous with respect to input.
采用快速高尔基染色法，对小猫和成年猫内侧膝状体背侧核团的神经元进行了研究。背侧核团包含两种主要细胞类型：一种是具有放射状树突的大型星状神经元，另一种是具有簇状树突的浓密神经元，每种神经元都有广泛的树突野。发现了两种具有局部分支轴突的细胞大小（局部回路神经元）。较小且常见的一种呈星状，树突域有限，轴突有多个、通常丰富的侧支，在细胞附近终止。第二种，且不太常见的类型（大型局部回路神经元）稍大，轴突侧支较少。这些细胞类型的细微但明显的差异区分了背侧核团的深层和浅层以及核团的前层（深层背侧和浅层）。这些功能差异可能与腹侧核团相对形态学同质性形成对比，腹侧核团与极其异质的内侧核团相比，相对形态学同质性较高。背侧核团在结构和功能上都应被视为丘脑枕 - 外侧后复合体的一部分。在上膝状体核中，主要神经元是具有大细胞体和许多广泛树突且覆盖有附属物的星状细胞。大轴突没有侧支。还观察到一种具有几个轴突侧支且树突稀疏、受限的小型局部回路细胞。在相邻的后界核中，主要神经元有一个中等大小的梨形或稍细长的细胞体，一些非常长的放射状树突，可能跨越核团的深度，以及一条长的、分支较少的轴突。这里也可见小神经元。内侧膝状体结构、连接和功能的比较表明，背侧核团主要但可能并非唯一地与听觉有关，而腹侧核团完全与听觉有关且相对同质，内侧核团在输入方面是多模式且异质的。
