Striatal projections from the rat lateral posterior thalamic nucleus
Hiroaki Kamishina1, Geoffrey H Yurcisin, James V Corwin
1Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. Kamicna@iwate-u.ac.jp
The mediorostral lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) strongly projects to the dorsocentral striatum (DCS), a key area for attention. This reveals a critical thalamostriatal pathway in spatial processing and directed attention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Thalamocortical Circuits
Background:
- The dorsocentral striatum (DCS) is involved in directed attention and neglect, receiving cortical inputs.
- The lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) has reciprocal connections with relevant cortical areas and projects to the DCS, suggesting a role in attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map thalamostriatal projections from the LP and surrounding thalamic nuclei to the DCS.
- To elucidate the role of the LP-DCS pathway in the corticostriatal-thalamic network for spatial processing and attention.
Main Methods:
- Anterograde axonal tracing was employed to visualize projections.
- Investigated thalamic nuclei included LP, laterodorsal thalamic nucleus (LD), central lateral nucleus (CL), and posterior thalamic nucleus (Po).
Main Results:
- The mediorostral part of LP (LPMR) strongly projects to the DCS and the dorsal striatum.
- A topographical organization was found: medial LPMR projects to the central DCS (AGm area), and central LPMR projects to the dorsal DCS (PPC/Oc2M area).
- Laterorostral LP (LPLR) and other surrounding thalamic nuclei project to peripheral striatal regions but not the DCS.
Conclusions:
- DCS is a convergence site for interconnected thalamostriatal and corticostriatal projections.
- The LP-DCS pathway is a crucial component of the corticostriatal-thalamic network mediating spatial processing and directed attention.
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