Indirect visual cortical input to the deep layers of the hamster's superior colliculus via the basal ganglia.

Anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques were employed to delineate the organization of a visual cortical input to the deep layers of the hamster's superior colliculus which may be mediated by links in the striatum and substantia nigra. Autoradiographic experiments showed that areas 17, 18a, and the cortex medial to area 17 (areas 18b and 29) all projected to the dorsocaudal part of the ipsilateral striatum. This projection was organized so that the rostrocaudal axis of the visual cortex was represented along the antero posterior axis of the striatum. Large posterior neocortical injections which included all of these areas also revealed a weak, crossed corticostriatal pathway. Such injections also demonstrated clear discontinuities in the terminal distribution of the visual corticostriatal projection, similar to those which have been noted after injections of tracers into the motor and premotor cortices. Retrograde tracing experiments showed that the cells of origin of the visual cortical projections to the striatum were medium-sized pyramidal neurons located primarily in the upper portion of lamina V. Anterograde transport of [3H]-leucine and HRP showed that the portion of the striatum heavily innervated by the visual cortex projected to the part of substantial nigra, pars reticulata immediately adjacent to the cerebral peduncle. Injections in the rostral striatum labeled more medial portions of this nucleus. The cells of origin of the striatonigral pathway measured between 13 and 20 micrometers in diameter and they were located primarily in the dorsal and lateral parts of the striatum. Anterograde tracing after substantia nigra, pars reticulata injections revealed a projection to both superior colliculi. The uncrossed pathway terminated primarily as a series of patches throughout the mediolateral and rostrocaudal extents of the lower stratum griseum intermediale and stratum album intermedium. Labeling was also visible in the lateral portion of the stratum griseum profundum. The crossed nigrotectal pathway terminated primarily in the rostrolateral stratum griseum profundum. The cells of origin of the nigrocollicular pathway were fusiform or multipolar cells and were located primarily adjacent to the cerebral peduncle throughout the rostral half of the substantias nigra, par reticulata.