Distribution in areas 18 and 19 of neurons projecting to the pontine nuclei: a quantitative study in the cat with retrograde transport of HRP-WGA. 1985

J G Bjaalie

Following large injections of horseradish peroxidase - wheat germ agglutinin in the pontine nuclei, corticopontine neurons in areas 18 and 19 were quantitatively mapped and flat maps showing the distribution of retrogradely labeled cells were constructed. The areal borders were defined either cyto- and myeloarchitectonically or from standard retinotopic maps presented in frontal sections (Tusa et al. 1981). Maps of the retinotopic organization in areas 18 and 19 (Tusa et al. 1979) were transferred to the present flat maps. Thus, the number and distribution of pontine projecting cells could be correlated with the retinotopic organization. The cell density (number of labeled cells per mm2 cortex) is in both areas highest in the cortex representing the lower and upper visual periphery and decreases towards the representation of the retinal central area. However, since in both areas 18 and 19 the visual field representation is twisted and portions of the visual field are magnified, the actual number of cells is higher in the cortex representing the central area and the lower medial visual field than in other parts. The cortex representing the lower hemifield contains approximately 2/3 (mean, N = 4) of the corticopontine cells in both areas. The average density of corticopontine cells increases from area 17 through 18 to 19, but the total number of cells within each of the areas is about the same (area 17: 18000 cells, area 18: 13400 cells, area 19: 17200 cells; mean, N = 4; data on area 17 from Bjaalie and Brodal, 1983). In conclusion, areas 17, 18 and 19 contribute about equally in quantitative terms to the pontine nuclei. Furthermore, assuming that the corticopontine neurons transmit spatially relevant information, there is a moderate overrepresentation of central vision and the lower medial visual field in the pontine projection from areas 18 and 19. This visual field representation is remarkably similar to that found in the corticopontine projection from area 17 (Bjaalie and Brodal 1983).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D011149 Pons The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM. Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D012160 Retina The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent. Ora Serrata
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002452 Cell Count The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample. Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D002531 Cerebellum The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills. Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014793 Visual Cortex Area of the OCCIPITAL LOBE concerned with the processing of visual information relayed via VISUAL PATHWAYS. Area V2,Area V3,Area V4,Area V5,Associative Visual Cortex,Brodmann Area 18,Brodmann Area 19,Brodmann's Area 18,Brodmann's Area 19,Cortical Area V2,Cortical Area V3,Cortical Area V4,Cortical Area V5,Secondary Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondary,Visual Cortex V2,Visual Cortex V3,Visual Cortex V3, V4, V5,Visual Cortex V4,Visual Cortex V5,Visual Cortex, Associative,Visual Motion Area,Extrastriate Cortex,Area 18, Brodmann,Area 18, Brodmann's,Area 19, Brodmann,Area 19, Brodmann's,Area V2, Cortical,Area V3, Cortical,Area V4, Cortical,Area V5, Cortical,Area, Visual Motion,Associative Visual Cortices,Brodmanns Area 18,Brodmanns Area 19,Cortex Secondary, Visual,Cortex V2, Visual,Cortex V3, Visual,Cortex, Associative Visual,Cortex, Extrastriate,Cortex, Secondary Visual,Cortex, Visual,Cortical Area V3s,Extrastriate Cortices,Secondary Visual Cortices,V3, Cortical Area,V3, Visual Cortex,V4, Area,V4, Cortical Area,V5, Area,V5, Cortical Area,V5, Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondaries,Visual Cortex, Secondary,Visual Motion Areas
D014794 Visual Fields The total area or space visible in a person's peripheral vision with the eye looking straightforward. Field, Visual,Fields, Visual,Visual Field

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