Effects of ventrolateral-ventromedial thalamic lesions on motor coordination and spatial orientation in rats

The ventrolateral-ventromedial (VL-VM) nuclei are classified as a motor area of the thalamus on the basis of predominant input from the cerebellum and the basal ganglia and output to the motor cortex. The sensitivity to electrolytic lesions of the VL-VM thalamic nuclei in rats was evaluated for tests requiring balance and equilibrium. VL-VM lesions impaired acquisition of the rotorod test but had no effect on stationary beam and hole-board tests. A selective impairment was also observed in the Morris water maze, as VL-VM thalamic lesions slowed down acquisition of the hidden platform but not the visible platform condition. These results support the hypothesis that thalamic motor nuclei participate in the acquisition of sensorimotor and spatial learning.