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Layer 7 is one of the retinorecipient layers of the avian optic tectum. However, little information is available about the neuronal organization of this layer and its implications for visual function. Golgi impregnation was used to investigate the retinal input to and the neuronal architecture of layer 7 of the chick optic tectum, which forms a narrow band between the two cell‐dense layers 6 and 8. Anterograde tracers were also used to investigate the afferent and efferent connections of layer 7, in both the light and the electron microscope, together with GABA immunogold labelling. Three types of radial neuron were defined according to the origin and course of their axons. The perikarya of these neurons were situated in tectal layers 10–11. The principal dendrites of these radial neurons ascended to the tectal surface and gave rise to dendritic side‐branches in layer 7. These dendritic side‐branches received asymmetric synapses from the terminations of retinal fibre arborisations. Type 2 radial neurons, whose axons arose from the deep pole of the perikaryon or occasionally from a basal dendrite, were shown to project to the nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis, which has previously been demonstrated to be GABAergic and to project to glomerulus‐like complexes in tectal layers 4–5. In these layers, the dendritic branches of layer 13 neurons that project to the nucleus rotundus have previously been shown to receive retinal fibre input. Therefore, the retinal input to layer 7 may be able to modulate the transmission of information to the visual thalamus, by way of a feedback loop to layers 4–5 of the tectum involving the nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis.

In the present study the telencephalic connections between the centres of the tectofugal and thalamofugal pathways were investigated with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and biotinylated dextran-amine anterograde tracers in chicken using light and electron microscopy. No direct connection was found between the visual Wulst and the ectostriatum or the telencephalic centres of the tectofugal and thalamofugal pathways. Besides other projections, the visual Wulst emitted fibres also to the middle and lateral parts of the hyperstriatum ventrale. Further experiments revealed that the middle part of the hyperstriatum ventrale projected to the ectostriatum centrale and periphericum and established an indirect connection between the visual Wulst and the ectostriatum. The lateral part of the hyperstriatum ventrale sent a few efferent fibres toward the diencephalon and brainstem, but projected massively to the ectostriatum periphericum, neostriatum intermedium pars laterale, the ventral part of the neostriatum caudale and the archistriatum dorsale. Considering that these areas are structures of the tectofugal circuitry as well, the presence of these connections may result in a more elaborate visual processing. The neostriatum may be an associative visual center and possibly a modulatory area toward the archistriatum intermedium dorsale, by which visual information may mediate, modulate and control the movements.

Abstract:  The nucleus rotundus receives GABA-like immunoreactive fibres from the nuclei subpretectalis and postero-ventralis thalami. This result was confirmed by Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PhA-L) anterograde tracer and with electron microscopic (EM) γ-aminobutiric acid (GABA)-immunogold staining. The detailed electron microscopic analysis of the structure of the neurons in these nuclei revealed that the neurons in the nucleus subpretectalis displayed GABA-like immunoreactivity. In the postero-ventral thalamic nucleus a group of neurons was GABA-positive. The surface of the neurons was covered both with numerous GABA-negative and GABA-like immunoreactive terminals that established asymmetrical and symmetrical synapses, respectively, with the GABA-positive neurons. The GABA-like immunonegative terminals are supposed to be the axon terminals of the collaterals of tecto-rotundal fibres in the subpretectal nucleus and the collateral terminal branches of contralateral tecto-rotundal fibres in the postero-ventralis thalami. In both nuclei, the GABA-like immunoreactive terminals may be developed by the collaterals of local neurons that establish symmetrical synapses. In the Phaseolus lectin-stained preparations these terminals may be labelled. The morphological characteristics of the neurons in the subpretectal and partly, in the postero-ventral nuclei are similar to those of interneurons (local circuit neurons) and the numerous asymmetrical and symmetrical axo-somatic synapses, respectively. But these neurons locate outside of their target nucleus, and exert their modulatory effect on rotundo-ectostriatal transmission. Also, a contralateral influence is present in the nucleus rotundus that may interact in the cooperation of the eyes. The neurons of the subpretectal and postero-ventral nuclei, similarly to the neurons of isthmic nuclei, are a special group of modulatory neurons with effects at a distance.

Summary: The existence of Golgi type II neurons was verified in the anterior intralaminar central lateral (CL) nucleus of the cat thalamus, and its projection cell types were identified, by means of Golgi impregnation. CL principal neurons were found to display a large- or medium-sized cell body and a radiate dendritic pattern. Their primary dendrites were limited in number, and had a rather long course; they were poorly ramified. The axons of principal neurons were impregnated only occasionally and for a short distance. Projection neurons of the ‘bushy’ or tufted type, described in the main thalamic sensory nuclei, were not identified in the CL in the present study. Typical Golgi type II neurons were found throughout CL. They were mainly small-sized, and displayed a rich dendritic arborization characterized by dendritic appendages. The axons of Golgi type II neurons were seen to give rise to extensive local arborizations. The present findings indicate that in the cat CL, principal cells are mainly represented by radiate neurons. Typical local circuit neurons also are evident in CL, suggesting that the activity of anterior intralaminar structures is regulated by intrinsic mechanisms similar to those operating in the main thalamic relay nuclei.

The ultrastructure of the ventrobasal complex (VB) of the cat thalamus was investigated in order to compare the data with those obtained in other thalamic nuclei. New data are described regarding the identification of Golgi II type neurons and several forms of axo-somatic synapses. By means of a quantitative analysis the number of different profiles, distribution of interprofile contacts, synaptic densities and degree of synaptic input of the two main cell-types were defined. The quantitative data obtained in the VB complex were compared with values for the lateral geniculate body (CGL), nucleus anterior ventralis (AV-non-sensory relay thalamic nucleus) and nucleus lateralis posterior-pulvinar complex (LP-PU-associative thalamic nucleus).

In Golgi preparations of the chicken diencephalon, various types of cells and fibres were studied in the nucleus dorsolateralis anterior thalami (DLA). Two groups of neurons were found: projection neurons with long axons and interneurons with locally branching axons. The projection neurons varied in the different areas of the DLA. In the medial part the neurons are large cells with long, moderately spiny dendrites, and in the dorsal part there are small cells with short, wavy and moderately spiny dendrites. These neurons differ completely from those found in the rostral and lateral parts, where the neurons have medium-sized cell bodies and curving, spiny dendrites, which branch tuft-like or with bifurcations.

A quantitative analysis was carried out on the thalamic ventrobasal (VB) complex of the cat. The following numerical and metrical parameters of the neuronal elements (cells and fibers) were determined:1.Volume of nucleus: 27.38 mm32.Total number of neurons: 243,0003.Total number of fibers of medial lemniscus: 26,0004.Volume of arborization space of one lemniscal fiber: 2.26×106 µm3.

Electron microscopical studies of the thalamic AV-AM nuclei substantiated the presence of two main types of neurons, i.e. principal (or relay) cells and Golgi type II interneurons. Characteristic synaptic islands are found in abundance in the AV-AM. Four different types of synaptic terminals have been identified in these islands: RL-boutons = large axonal terminals with round synaptic vesicles; RS-boutons = small axonal terminals with round synaptic vesicles; F1-boutons = small axonal profiles containing flattened synaptic vesicles, and F2-profiles interpreted as presynaptic dendrite appendages, bearing pleomorphic vesicles, both belonging to the Golgi type II interneurons. — The synaptic relations were studied in normal preparations and after lesions in the mamillary body, limbic cortex and hippocampus. The specific afferents (RL-boutons) — originating from the medial mamillary nucleus — are presynaptic to both relay cell dendrites and “presynaptic” dendrite profiles of Golgi type II interneurons, which in turn are presynaptic to the same relay dendrites (synaptic triads). RS-boutons originate mainly from limbic cortex and hippocampus.

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Summary: Neurons displaying a thalamo-cortical projection were marked by means of the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the labeled elements were compared with neurons impregnated by the Golgi technique. Injections of HRP into the posterior area of the limbic cortex resulted in its uptake by various anterior thalamic nuclei, especially the anteroventral nucleus. HRP-positive cells are characterized by their position, dendritic orientation, and the shape and size of their somata. On the basis of the combined HRP- and Golgi-analysis three different types of thalamo-cortical relay neurons can be distinguished.

Following a demonstration of Golgi-impregnated neurons and their terminal axon arborization in the optic tectum, the neurons of the nucleus parvocellularis and magnocellularis isthmi were studied by means of postembedded electron-microscopical (EM) -aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunogold staining. In the parvocellular nucleus, none of the neuronal cell bodies or dendrites displayed GABA-like immunoreactivity in EM preparations stained by postembedded GABA-immunogold. However, numerous GABA-like immunoreactive and also unlabeled terminals established synapses with GABA-negative neurons. GABA-like immunoreactive terminals were usually found at the dendritic origin. Around the dendritic profiles, isolated synapses of both GABA-like immunoreactive and immunonegative terminals established glomerulus-like structures enclosed by glial processes. All giant and large neurons of the magnocellular nucleus of the isthmi displayed GABA-like immunoreactivity. Their cell surface was completely covered by GABA-like immunoreactive and unlabeled terminals that established synapses with the neurons. These neurons are thought to send axon collaterals to the parvocellular nucleus; their axons enter the tectum opticum. The morphological characteristics of neurons of both isthmic nuclei are like those of interneurons, because of their numerous axosomatic synapses with both asymmetrical and symmetrical features. These neurons are not located among their target neurons and exert their modulatory effect on optic transmission in the optic tectum at a distance.

Afferent connections to the ventrobasal complex (VB) of the thalamus were studied by means of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and by the Golgi-method. After HRP-injection into the VB, peroxidase-positive cells were observed contralaterally in the dorsal column nuclei (DCN), in the trigeminal nuclei and in the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN), and ipsilaterally in the somatosensory I (SI) and II (SII) cortical areas. Labeled cells of different shape and size were compared with neurons impregnated by the Golgi-technique. On the basis of HRP-labeling it is concluded that cells projecting to the VB are different in size and shape even within one region and that they correspond to the relay or efferent neurons observed in the Golgimaterial.

The characteristic dendritic arborization of different cell types, the axon arborization of Golgi type II neurons, and the terminal parts of the specific and non-specific afferents in the nucleus anterior ventralis and medialis were observed, using the Golgi-Kopsch perfusion method.