The lateral suprasylvian corticotectal projection in cats.

The projection from the lateral suprasylvian visual areas to the superior colliculus was investigated in cats using both anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques. The retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or wheat germ agglutinin-HRP (WGA-HRP) from their site of deposit in the superior colliculus indicates that all divisions of the lateral suprasylvian visual areas project to both the superficial and deep layers of the superior colliculus. However, following tracer deposits in the superior colliculus that are confined to the layers below the stratum opticum (deep layers), more neurons are labeled along the lateral bank than along the medial bank of the middle suprasylvian sulcus. Conversely, tracer deposits in the superior colliculus dorsal to and including the stratum opticum label more cells in the medial than the lateral bank. These retrograde experiments also confirm that the visual cortex along the lateral gyrus (areas 17 and 18) projects to the superficial, but apparently not to the deep layers. The visual area in the cortex surrounding the caudal two-thirds of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus projects to the deep, but not to the superficial layers. The laminar and areal patterns of anterograde axon labeling in the superior colliculus were examined after single deposits of 3H-amino acids (autoradiography), HRP, or WGA-HRP in the lateral suprasylvian cortical regions, or combined isotope and WGA-HRP deposits. Axon labeling in the superior colliculus is generally densest in the stratum opticum and extends either dorsally into the superficial layers or ventrally into the intermediate gray layer. Specifically, the anterior divisions of the lateral suprasylvian cortex project primarily to the lateral portion of the superior colliculus, with the projection from the medial bank biased toward the superficial layers and axons from the lateral bank aimed mainly at the intermediate gray layer with some axons even reaching the deepest gray layer of the superior colliculus. Both the posteromedial and posterolateral divisions of the lateral suprasylvian cortex project to more extensive portions of the mediolateral and rostrocaudal dimensions of the superior colliculus than the anterior divisions. However, the posterolateral division projects more heavily to the intermediate gray layer than the posteromedial division; from the latter, axons distribute more superficially in the superior colliculus. Finally, the cortex surrounding the posterior suprasylvian sulcus projects primarily to the medial part of the superficial layers of the superior colliculus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)