The spatial relationship between the cerebral cortex and fiber trajectory through the corpus callosum of the cat

We related fiber trajectory through the feline corpus callosum to the site of fiber origin in the cortical mantle and to functional modality. The cortical fields which contribute axons to the different portions of the corpus callosum were revealed by applying horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the cut ends of selected groups of callosal axons in twelve adult cats. Overall, the application of HRP at progressively more caudal positions in the corpus callosum labels fields of neurons at successively more caudal positions in the cerebral cortex. Comparison of these data to functionally distinct cortical zones shows that the callosal body conveys a mixture of fibers arising from functionally diverse regions of the cerebrum, whereas portions of the rostral and caudal ends appear to be essentially unimodal, conveying motor and visual signals, respectively.