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Relationships between the nigrotectal pathway and the cells of origin of the predorsal bundle.

Publication ,  Journal Article
May, PJ; Hall, WC
Published in: J Comp Neurol
July 1, 1984

The goal of this study was to define the anatomical relationships between the terminal field of the nigrotectal pathway and the tectal neurons which project to contralateral brainstem gaze centers by way of the predorsal bundle. The distribution and morphology of the cells of origin for the predorsal bundle were determined by using a modification of the retrograde horseradish peroxidase technique which homogeneously filled their somas and dendrites. The terminal distribution of the nigrotectal tract was determined using both anterograde horseradish peroxidase and autoradiographic procedures. The results indicate that, in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), the predorsal bundle cells are a heterogeneous population whose dendritic fields form a well-defined band confined to the inner half of stratum griseum intermediate. This inner sublamina also can be identified in Nissl and myelin stains. The same sublamina is the major target of the nigrotectal tract. The striking anatomical correspondence between the distribution of nigrotectal terminals and the cells projecting in the predorsal bundle supports a proposal, based on recent physiological investigations, that the nigrotectal tract plays an important role in the initiation of the saccade-related activity of the deep tectal cells (Chevalier et al., '81; Hikosaka and Wurtz, '83a-d).

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Comp Neurol

DOI

ISSN

0021-9967

Publication Date

July 1, 1984

Volume

226

Issue

3

Start / End Page

357 / 376

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Superior Colliculi
  • Substantia Nigra
  • Sciuridae
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Pathways
  • Eye Movements
  • Brain Mapping
  • Animals
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 3109 Zoology
 

Citation

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MLA
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May, P. J., & Hall, W. C. (1984). Relationships between the nigrotectal pathway and the cells of origin of the predorsal bundle. J Comp Neurol, 226(3), 357–376. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902260306
May, P. J., and W. C. Hall. “Relationships between the nigrotectal pathway and the cells of origin of the predorsal bundle.J Comp Neurol 226, no. 3 (July 1, 1984): 357–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902260306.
May, P. J., and W. C. Hall. “Relationships between the nigrotectal pathway and the cells of origin of the predorsal bundle.J Comp Neurol, vol. 226, no. 3, July 1984, pp. 357–76. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/cne.902260306.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Comp Neurol

DOI

ISSN

0021-9967

Publication Date

July 1, 1984

Volume

226

Issue

3

Start / End Page

357 / 376

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Superior Colliculi
  • Substantia Nigra
  • Sciuridae
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Pathways
  • Eye Movements
  • Brain Mapping
  • Animals
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 3109 Zoology