Topographical mapping of the thalamocortical projections in rodents and comparison with that in primates

The general topographical organization of the thalamo-cortical projection of two rodents, the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and the Guinea pig (Cavia aperta) was investigated with the HRP-method and compared with that of the new world primate marmoset (Cal-lithrix jacchus) as shown in a companion study by Brysch et al. (1990). HRP was injected into various regions of the cortex in different animals and hemispheres, and plots were made of the retrogradely stained thalamic projection neurons. The thalamocortical projection is virtually identical in both rodent species. It is topological throughout in that nearby cortical injections label nearby, though overlapping cell groups in the thalamus. Cortical injections in a rostro-caudal progression labelled thalamic projection zones on top of each other, layered like tiles on a roof or fish scales, beginning in the rostromedial and ending in the caudo-dorsal thalamus. The progression vector of thalamic zones projecting successively from more rostral to more caudal cortical zones is twisted and turns from a predominantly mediolateral direction in the anterior thalamus to an essentially ventro-dorsal direction in the posterior thalamus In the marmoset, the thalamo-cortical topography follows the same topological rule, with the exception of the lateral geniculate body which is translocated latero-ventrally and separated from the rest of the thalamus as in all primates. This suggests a general thalamo-cortical mapping rule common to all mammals which can be related to gradients and timing of cell birth in the thalamus. It is proposed that this mapping rule is the consequence of successive appositions of neurons in the medio-ventral thalamus during ontogenetic development.