The Network Organization of Rat Intrathalamic Macroconnections and a Comparison with Other Forebrain Divisions

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Network Organization of Rat Intrathalamic Macroconnections and a Comparison with Other Forebrain Divisions The network organization of rat intrathalamic macroconnections and a comparison with other forebrain divisions Larry W. Swansona,1, Olaf Spornsb,c, and Joel D. Hahna aDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089; bIndiana University Network Science Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405; and cDepartment of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 Contributed by Larry W. Swanson, May 17, 2019 (sent for review April 8, 2019; reviewed by Zhanyan Fu and Leah A. Krubitzer) The thalamus is 1 of 4 major divisions of the forebrain and is of cortical regions (6). In contrast, the THe (habenular nuclei) and usually subdivided into epithalamus, dorsal thalamus, and ventral THv (reticular and ventral lateral geniculate nuclei, intergeniculate thalamus. The 39 gray matter regions comprising the large dorsal leaflet, zona incerta, and fields of Forel) are much smaller and thalamus project topographically to the cerebral cortex, whereas have virtually no projections to the cerebral cortex (6). the much smaller epithalamus (2 regions) and ventral thalamus (5 For the purposes of this analysis, axonal connections among all regions) characteristically project subcortically. Before analyzing 46 thalamic nuclei recognized on one side of the rat brain in a extrinsic inputs and outputs of the thalamus, here, the intrinsic standard atlas (7) have been considered (whether THe, THd, or connections among all 46 gray matter regions of the rat thalamus THv) along with the connections established by these nuclei with on each side of the brain were expertly collated and subjected to the 46 corresponding thalamic nuclei on the other side of the network analysis. Experimental axonal pathway-tracing evidence brain. Monosynaptic connection reports using axonal pathway- was found in the neuroanatomical literature for the presence or tracing methods were collated from the structural neuroscience absence of 99% of 2,070 possible ipsilateral connections and 97% of literature at the macroscale (“from gray matter region A to gray 2,116 possible contralateral connections; the connection density of matter region B”) level (8, 9), the only granularity level globally ipsilateral connections was 17%, and that of contralateral connec- represented thus far in the adult vertebrate literature. The NEUROSCIENCE tions 5%. One hub, the reticular thalamic nucleus (of the ventral resulting connection matrix was subjected to formal network thalamus), was found in this network, whereas no high-degree rich analysis. Collation was restricted to data from the rat where, by club or clear small-world features were detected. The reticular far, the most published connection data exist, and all such data thalamic nucleus was found to be primarily responsible for confer- ring the property of complete connectedness to the intrathalamic were converted, if necessary, to the only available nomenclature network in the sense that there is, at least, one path of finite length scheme that is formally defined, complete, internally consistent, between any 2 regions or nodes in the network. Direct comparison and hierarchically organized (7). with previous investigations using the same methodology shows The goals of this research are to create a gold-standard online that each division of the forebrain (cerebral cortex, cerebral nuclei, database of intrathalamic connections, to provide a top-level con- thalamus, hypothalamus) has distinct intrinsic network topological ceptual model for understanding intrathalamic circuitry at finer organization. A future goal is to analyze the network organization levels of granularity (neuron types within a region, individual of connections within and among these 4 divisions of the forebrain. Significance connectomics | mammal | neural connections | neuroinformatics | subsystems The thalamus is 1 of 4 major divisions of the forebrain, and one key function is to act as a “relay” for specific types of in- lassically, the forebrain has 4 divisions, the cerebral cortex formation to reach the cerebral cortex in an ordered way. A Cand cerebral nuclei (together the endbrain), and the thala- matrix of axonal connections among the 46 rat thalamic nuclei mus and hypothalamus—together the interbrain (1, 2). For the on each side of the brain was derived from collated data and systematic creation of a top-level network analysis of the mam- used to clarify the organization of this intrinsic thalamic cir- malian brain’s wiring diagram, we began rostrally with the in- cuitry with network analysis tools. Compared with the other 3 trinsic bilateral connectivity of the cerebral cortex (3), the forebrain divisions, the intrathalamic network is sparsely con- cerebral nuclei (4), and the hypothalamus (5). The results of this nected, and only one region, the reticular thalamic nucleus, is a type of analysis provide insight into how the network of associ- hub. Direct comparisons using the same network analysis tools ation (ipsilateral) and commissural (contralateral) connections indicate that each division of the forebrain has a distinct set of for a particular nervous system division are organized when intrinsic network organizational features. considered in isolation; that is, without accounting for axonal inputs from, and outputs to, other parts of the nervous system. Author contributions: L.W.S. designed research; L.W.S. performed research; L.W.S., O.S., and J.D.H. analyzed data; and L.W.S. wrote the paper with contributions from all authors. This study provides a similar analysis for the thalamus and the Reviewers: Z.F., Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; and L.A.K., University of California, opportunity to compare its intrinsic circuitry with that described Davis. for each of the other 3 major divisions of the forebrain. The authors declare no conflict of interest. The thalamus is considered classically to have 3 major subdi- Published under the PNAS license. visions based on developmental, topographic, and extrinsic Data deposition: All connection reports used for this study are provided in a tabulated connectional patterns: epithalamus (THe), dorsal thalamus spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel file) in SI Materials and Methods; they are also deposited as a (THd), and ventral thalamus (THv) (6). The THd is by far the searchable resource at The Neurome Project, neuromeproject.org (https://sites.google. largest of these subdivisions in terms of its gray matter volume com/view/the-neurome-project/connections/thalamus?authuser=0). and the number of its gray matter regions (39 out of 46 for the 1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: [email protected]. complete thalamus on each side of the brain), and it is regarded as This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. the “gateway” to the cerebral cortex with each gray matter region 1073/pnas.1905961116/-/DCSupplemental. (or nucleus or node) projecting to a specific cortical region or set www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1905961116 PNAS Latest Articles | 1of9 Downloaded by guest on September 25, 2021 neurons within a neuron type, and synapses associated with individual to give 17,590 connection reports for 8,372 possible connections neurons) (10), and to compare the organization of intrathalamic arising from both sides of the brain). The connection reports were circuitry with the intrinsic circuitry of other major forebrain divi- from 24 journals (49.0% from the Journal of Comparative Neurology sions. Future goals are to analyze the organization of connections and 15.4% from Brain Research) involving about 68 laboratories. In among these divisions of the forebrain, and then their connections total, 15 different methods were used in generating the connection with the rest of the nervous system. reports; the pathway-tracing method and other metadata associated with each report are identified in Dataset S1. Results There are 2,070 (462−46) possible ipsilateral (uncrossed, asso- Basic Connection Numbers. The collation identified 347 ipsilateral ciation) macroconnections among the 46 gray matter regions of intrathalamic connections as present and 1,703 as absent for a the rat thalamus on one side of the brain (a connection from a connection density of 16.9% (347/2,050). In contrast, 112 con- region to itself is not considered) and 2,116 (462) possible con- tralateral connections from one thalamus to the other were tralateral (crossed, commissural) macroconnections from those identified as present, and 1,937 were identified as absent for a 46 regions to the corresponding regions of the thalamus on the connection density of 5.5% (112/2,049). No published data were other side of the brain. Thus, the thalamus on one side has found for 20 (1.0%) of all 2,070 possible ipsilateral connections 4,186 possible ipsilateral and contralateral connections, and the for a matrix coverage (fill ratio) of 99.0% (Fig. 1A), whereas right and left thalami together have 8,372 possible connections. matrix coverage for contralateral connections from one thalamus Our systematic review of the primary structural neuroscience to the other was 96.8% (no article found for 67, 3.2%, of all literature identified no reports of statistically significant male/ 2,116 possible connections). Assuming the connection reports female, right/left, or strain differences for any ipsilateral or collected from the literature representatively sample the 46- contralateral intrathalamic connections used for the analysis, region matrix for each
Recommended publications
  • Differential Deep Brain Stimulation Sites and Networks for Cervical Vs
    medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.28.21261289; this version posted July 31, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Title Differential Deep Brain Stimulation Sites and Networks for Cervical vs. Generalized Dystonia Authors Andreas Horn*1, Martin Reich*2, Siobhan Ewert*1, Ningfei Li1, Bassam Al-Fatly1, Florian Lange2, Jonas Roothans2, Simon Oxenford1, Isabel Horn1, Steffen Paschen3, Joachim Runge4, Fritz Wodarg5, Karsten Witt6, Robert C. Nickl7, Matthias Wittstock8, Gerd-Helge Schneider9, Philipp Mahlknecht10, Werner Poewe10, Wilhelm Eisner11, Ann-Kristin Helmers12, Cordula Matthies7, Joachim K. Krauss4, Günther Deuschl3, Jens Volkmann2, Andrea Kühn1 Author Affiliations 1. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Unit, Department of Neurology, Berlin, Germany. 2. Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Department of Neurology, Germany 3. University Kiel, Department of Neurology, Germany 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School Hannover, MHH, Hannover, Germany. 5. University Kiel, Department of Radiology, Germany 6. University Oldenburg, Department of Neurology, Germany 7. Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Department of Neurosurgery, Germany 8. University Rostock, Department
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioral and Electrophysiological Properties of Nucleus Reuniens: Role in Arousal, Spatial Navigation and Cognitive Processes
    BEHAVIORAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NUCLEUS REUNIENS: ROLE IN AROUSAL, SPATIAL NAVIGATION AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES by Tatiana Danela Viena A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Charles E. Schmidt College of Science In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL December 2018 Copyright 2018 by Tatiana Danela Viena ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I wish to express my sincere thanks to my advisor Dr. Robert P. Vertes for the opportunity to work on these experiments and for his guidance and patience in completing this project. I also would like to thank the members of my committee, Dr. Robert W. Stackman and Dr. Timothy A. Allen for their challenging questions and suggestions regarding this project, but more importantly for their support. In addition, I want to thank Dr. Stephanie Linley for patiently teaching, guiding and empowering me whenever it was needed. I am grateful to all of the undergraduate research assistants who volunteered their time to assist in the many aspects of this project. They are too many to be named here, but you know who you are! I also would like to extend my gratitude to all of the wonderful individuals who one way or another assisted me over my graduate years and the many programs that sponsored my research activities. I also want to give a special recognition to my family (Bernardo, Randee and Elysse) for their unconditional love and support; and my mother and her daily words of encouragement. Thanks for always believing in me and pushing me to get to the finish line.
    [Show full text]
  • Nucleus Reuniens Thalami Modulates Activity in Hippocampal Field CA1 Through Excitatory and Inhibitory Mechanisms
    The Journal of Neuroscience, July 15, 1997, 17(14):5640–5650 Nucleus Reuniens Thalami Modulates Activity in Hippocampal Field CA1 through Excitatory and Inhibitory Mechanisms M. J. Dolleman-Van der Weel,1,2 F. H. Lopes da Silva,2 and M. P. Witter1 1Graduate School for Neurosciences Amsterdam, Research Institute for Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and 2Institute of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Amsterdam, 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands The nucleus reuniens thalami (RE) originates dense projections extracellularly recorded units in strata oriens/alveus and distal to CA1, forming asymmetrical synapses on spines (50%) and radiatum, indicative of the activation of local interneurons. dendrites (50%). The hypothesis that RE input modulates trans- Thus, RE seems to modulate transmission in CA1 through a mission in CA1 through excitation of both pyramidal cells and (subthreshold) depolarization of pyramidal cells and a supra- interneurons was tested using electrophysiological methods in threshold excitation of putative inhibitory oriens/alveus and the anesthetized rat. The RE–CA1 afferents were selectively radiatum interneurons. stimulated at their origin; evoked field potentials and unit ac- RE-evoked monosynaptic or disynaptic field potentials were tivity were recorded in CA1. RE-evoked depth profiles showed associated with stimulation of rostral or caudal RE, respectively. a prominent negative deflection in the stratum lacunosum- Anatomically, a projection from caudal to rostral RE was dem- moleculare and a positive one in the stratum radiatum. The onstrated that can account for the disynaptic RE–CA1 input. lacunosum-moleculare sink–radiatum source configuration is Because caudal RE receives input from the hippocampus via compatible with RE-elicited depolarization of apical dendrites the subiculum, we propose the existence of a closed RE– of pyramidal cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology the Position of the Diencephalon in the Brain Parts of the Diencephalon
    Microscopy of the diencephalon Árpád Dobolyi Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology The position of the diencephalon in the brain Parts of the diencephalon • Thalamus • Epithalamus – Pineal body – Habenulae – Trigonum habenulae – Habenular nuclei – Stria medullaris – Habenular commissure • Metathalamus – Medial geniculate body – Lateral geniculate body • Subthalamus – Subthalamic nucleus – Zona incerta – H fields of Forel • Hypothalamus Nuclear groups and nuclei of the thalamus Frontal sections of the thalamus Anterior section Middle section Functional classification of thalamic nuclei • Specific nuclei: specific input, project to specific part of the cortex - sensory relay nuclei: VPL, VPM, MGB, LGB - motor relay nuclei: VA, VL - limbic relay nuclei: AV, AD, AM • Association nuclei: cortical input, project to associative areas of the cortex - MD, LD, LP, pulvinar • Non-specific nuclei: ascending input, diffuse projection to the cortex - midline and intralaminar nuclei • Nuclei not projecting to the cerebral cortex - n. reticularis thalami, n. parafascicularis, n. subparafascicularis Cortical projections of (specific and association) thalamic nuclei mediosagittal view lateral view Specific sensory relay nuclei The VPL relays sensory inputs from the body to the cerebral cortex (Input: spinothalamic tract and the medial lemniscus) The VPM relays sensory inputs from the head to the cerebral cortex (Input: trigeminal and dorsal trigeminal lemniscus pathways) Relay of gustatory inputs to the cortex takes place
    [Show full text]
  • Thalamus and Hypothalamus
    DIENCEPHALON: THALAMUS AND HYPOTHALAMUS M. O. BUKHARI 1 DIENCEPHALON: General Introduction • Relay & integrative centers between the brainstem & cerebral cortex • Dorsal-posterior structures • Epithalamus • Anterior & posterior paraventricular nuclei • Habenular nuclei – integrate smell & emotions • Pineal gland – monitors diurnal / nocturnal rhythm • Habenular Commissure • Post. Commissure • Stria Medullaris Thalami • Thalamus(Dorsal thalamus) • Metathalamus • Medial geniculate body – auditory relay • Lateral geniculate body – visual relay Hypothalamic sulcus • Ventral-anterior structure • Sub-thalums (Ventral Thalamus) • Sub-thalamic Nucleus • Zona Inserta • Fields of Forel • Hypothalamus M. O. BUKHARI 2 Introduction THE THALAMUS Location Function External features Size Interthalamic 3 cms length x 1.5 cms breadth adhesion Two ends Anterior end– Tubercle of Thalamus Posterior end– Pulvinar – Overhangs Med & Lat.Gen.Bodies, Sup.Colliculi & their brachia Surfaces Sup. Surface – Lat. Part forms central part of lat. Vent. Med. Part is covered by tela choroidea of 3rd vent. Inf. Surface - Ant. part fused with subthalamus - Post. part free – inf. part of Pulvinar Med. Surface – Greater part of Lat. wall of 3rd ventricle Lat. Surface - Med.boundary of Post. Limb of internal capsule M. O. BUKHARI 3 Function of the Thalamus • Sensory relay • ALL sensory information (except smell) • Motor integration • Input from cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia • Arousal • Part of reticular activating system • Pain modulation • All nociceptive information • Memory & behavior • Lesions are disruptive M. O. BUKHARI 4 SUBDIVISION OF THALAMUS M. O. BUKHARI 5 SUBDIVISION OF THALAMUS: WHITE MATTER OF THE THALAMUS Internal Medullary Stratum Zonale Lamina External Medullary Lamina M. O. BUKHARI 6 LATERAL MEDIAL Nuclei of Thalamus Stratum Zonale Anterior Nucleus Medial Dorsal Lateral Dorsal (Large) EXT.Med.Lam ILN Ret.N CMN VPL MGB VPM PVN Lateral Ventral Medial Ventral LGB (Small) LD, LP, Pulvinar – Dorsal Tier nuclei Hypothalamus VA, VL, VPL, VPM – Ventral Tier nuclei M.
    [Show full text]
  • Basic Organization of Projections from the Oval and Fusiform Nuclei of the Bed Nuclei of the Stria Terminalis in Adult Rat Brain
    THE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY 436:430–455 (2001) Basic Organization of Projections From the Oval and Fusiform Nuclei of the Bed Nuclei of the Stria Terminalis in Adult Rat Brain HONG-WEI DONG,1,2 GORICA D. PETROVICH,3 ALAN G. WATTS,1 AND LARRY W. SWANSON1* 1Neuroscience Program and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-2520 2Institute of Neuroscience, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shannxi 710032, China 3Department of Psychology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 ABSTRACT The organization of axonal projections from the oval and fusiform nuclei of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) was characterized with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHAL) anterograde tracing method in adult male rats. Within the BST, the oval nucleus (BSTov) projects very densely to the fusiform nucleus (BSTfu) and also innervates the caudal anterolateral area, anterodorsal area, rhomboid nucleus, and subcommissural zone. Outside the BST, its heaviest inputs are to the caudal substantia innominata and adjacent central amygdalar nucleus, retrorubral area, and lateral parabrachial nucleus. It generates moderate inputs to the caudal nucleus accumbens, parasubthalamic nucleus, and medial and ventrolateral divisions of the periaqueductal gray, and it sends a light input to the anterior parvicellular part of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and nucleus of the solitary tract. The BSTfu displays a much more complex projection pattern. Within the BST, it densely innervates the anterodorsal area, dorsomedial nucleus, and caudal anterolateral area, and it moderately innervates the BSTov, subcommissural zone, and rhomboid nucleus. Outside the BST, the BSTfu provides dense inputs to the nucleus accumbens, caudal substantia innominata and central amygdalar nucleus, thalamic paraventricular nucleus, hypothalamic paraventricular and periventricular nuclei, hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus, perifornical lateral hypothalamic area, and lateral tegmental nucleus.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ventral Midline Thalamus (Reuniens and Rhomboid Nuclei) Contributes to the Persistence of Spatial Memory in Rats
    The Journal of Neuroscience, July 18, 2012 • 32(29):9947–9959 • 9947 Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive The Ventral Midline Thalamus (Reuniens and Rhomboid Nuclei) Contributes to the Persistence of Spatial Memory in Rats Michae¨l Loureiro, Thibault Cholvin, Joe¨lle Lopez, Nicolas Merienne, Asma Latreche, Brigitte Cosquer, Karine Geiger, Christian Kelche, Jean-Christophe Cassel,* and Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos* Laboratoire d’Imagerie et de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7237 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universite´ de Strasbourg, Institut Fe´de´ratif de Recherche 37 de Neurosciences, GDR 2905 du CNRS, Faculte´ de Psychologie, F-67000 Strasbourg, France The formation of enduring declarative-like memories engages a dialog between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Electrophysiological and neuroanatomical evidence for reciprocal connections with both of these structures makes the reuniens and rhomboid nuclei (ReRh) of the thalamus a major functional link between the PFC and hippocampus. Using immediate early gene imaging (c-Fos), fiber-sparing excitotoxic lesion, and reversible inactivation in rats, we provide evidence demonstrating a contribution of the ReRh to the persistence of a spatial memory. Intact rats trained in a Morris water maze showed increased c-Fos expression (vs home cage and visible platform groups: Ͼ500%) in the ReRh when tested in a probe trial at a 25 d delay, against no change ata5ddelay; behavioral performance was comparable at both delays. In rats subjected to excitotoxic fiber-sparing NMDA lesions circumscribed to the ReRh, we found normal acquisition of the water-maze task (vs sham-operated controls) and normal probe trial performance at the 5 d delay, but there was no evidence for memory retrieval at the 25 d delay.
    [Show full text]
  • Nucleus Reuniens Is Required for Encoding and Retrieving Precise Contextual Fear Memories in Rats
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/340190; this version posted June 7, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. Nucleus reuniens is required for encoding and retrieving precise contextual fear memories in rats Karthik R. Ramanathan, Jingji Jin, Reed L. Ressler, and Stephen Maren Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA Corresponding author: Stephen Maren Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences TAMU 4235 Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-4235 [email protected] Running title: Nucleus reuniens and memory precision Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing financial interests. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by grants from the McKnight Endowment for Neuroscience (McKnight Memory and Cognitive Disorders Award to SM) and the National Institutes of Health (R01MH065961) to SM. The authors would like to thank Kelsey J. Clement for his technical assistance. Author contributions: KR and SM designed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. KR, JJ and RR collected the data. Data availability: The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request. 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/340190; this version posted June 7, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
    [Show full text]
  • Neurophysiological Characterisation of Neurons in the Rostral Nucleus Reuniens in Health and Disease
    Neurophysiological characterisation of neurons in the rostral nucleus reuniens in health and disease. Submitted by Darren Walsh, to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Studies, September 2017. This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. (Signature) ……………………………………………………………………………… Word Count = 44,836 1 Abstract Evidence is mounting for a role of the nucleus reuniens (Re) in higher cognitive function. Despite growing interest, very little is known about the intrinsic neurophysiological properties of Re neurons and, to date, no studies have examined if alterations to Re neurons may contribute to cognitive deficits associated with normal aging or dementia. Work presented chapter 3 provides the first detailed description of the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of rostral Re neurons in young adult (~5 months) C57- Bl/6J mice. This includes a number of findings which are highly atypical for thalamic relay neurons including tonic firing in the theta frequency at rest, a paucity of hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) mediated currents, and a diversity of responses observed in response to depolarising current injections. Additionally this chapter includes a description of a novel form of intrinsic plasticity which alters the functional output of Re neurons. Chapter 4 investigates whether the intrinsic properties of Re neurons are altered in aged (~15 month) C57-Bl/6J mice as compared to a younger control group (~5 months).
    [Show full text]
  • The Anterior Thalamic Nuclei and Nucleus Reuniens: So Similar but So Different
    Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 119 (2020) 268–280 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/neubiorev Review article The anterior thalamic nuclei and nucleus reuniens: So similar but so different Mathias L. Mathiasen a, Shane M. O’Mara b, John P. Aggleton a,* a School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK b School of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Two thalamic sites are of especial significance for understanding hippocampal – diencephalic interactions: the Cingulate cortex anterior thalamic nuclei and nucleus reuniens. Both nuclei have dense, direct interconnections with the hip­ Hippocampus pocampal formation, and both are directly connected with many of the same cortical and subcortical areas. These Mammillary bodies two thalamic sites also contain neurons responsive to spatial stimuli while lesions within these two same areas Memory can disrupt spatial learning tasks that are hippocampal dependent. Despite these many similarities, closer Prefrontal cortex Retrosplenial cortex analysis reveals important differences in the details of their connectivity and the behavioural impact of lesions in Spatial memory these two thalamic sites. These nuclei play qualitatively different roles that largely reflectthe contrasting relative Subiculum importance of their medial frontal cortex interactions (nucleus reuniens) compared with their retrosplenial, Thalamus cingulate, and mammillary body interactions (anterior thalamic nuclei). While the anterior thalamic nuclei are critical for multiple aspects of hippocampal spatial encoding and performance, nucleus reuniens contributes, as required, to aid cognitive control and help select correct from competing memories. 1. Introduction in encoding and retrieving multiple aspects of space and navigation.
    [Show full text]
  • Direct Visualization and Characterization of The
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.25.008318; this version posted March 27, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Direct visualization and characterization of the 2 human zona incerta and surrounding structures 3 Running Title: Jonathan C. Lau1,2,3,4,*, Yiming Xiao2,3, Roy A.M. Haast2,3, Greydon Gilmore1,4, Direct visualization Kamil Uludag7,8,9, Keith W. MacDougall1, Ravi S. Menon2,3,6, of the zona incerta 1 1,2,3,4,6,& 1,2,3,4,5,6,& Andrew G. Parrent , Terry M. Peters , Ali R. Khan Keywords: brain; atlas; human; neuroanatomy; zona incerta; 7T; deep brain stimulation; T1; quantitative MRI 4 5 1Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 6 2Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute Canada, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 7 3Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 8 4School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 9 5Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 10 6Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada 11 7IBS Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Sungkyunkwan University, Seobu-ro, 2066, Jangan-gu, Suwon, South Korea 12 8Department of Biomedical Engineering, N Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seobu-ro, 2066, Jangan-gu, Suwon, South Korea 13 9Techna Institute and Koerner Scientist in MR Imaging, University Health Network, 100 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada 14 *Corresponding author 15 &Joint senior authors 16 17 Abstract: The zona incerta (ZI) is a small gray matter region of the deep brain first identified in the 19th 18 century, yet direct in vivo visualization and characterization has remained elusive.
    [Show full text]
  • Projections of the Paraventricular and Paratenial Nuclei of the Dorsal Midline Thalamus in the Rat
    THE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY 508:212–237 (2008) Projections of the Paraventricular and Paratenial Nuclei of the Dorsal Midline Thalamus in the Rat ROBERT P. VERTES* AND WALTER B. HOOVER Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 ABSTRACT The paraventricular (PV) and paratenial (PT) nuclei are prominent cell groups of the midline thalamus. To our knowledge, only a single early report has examined PV projections and no previous study has comprehensively analyzed PT projections. By using the antero- grade anatomical tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, and the retrograde tracer, FluoroGold, we examined the efferent projections of PV and PT. We showed that the output of PV is virtually directed to a discrete set of limbic forebrain structures, including ‘limbic’ regions of the cortex. These include the infralimbic, prelimbic, dorsal agranular insular, and entorhinal cortices, the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus, dorsal tenia tecta, claustrum, lateral septum, dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens (core and shell), olfactory tubercle, bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST), medial, central, cortical, and basal nuclei of amygdala, and the suprachiasmatic, arcuate, and dorsomedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. The posterior PV distributes more heavily than the anterior PV to the dorsal striatum and to the central and basal nuclei of amygdala. PT projections significantly overlap with those of PV, with some important differences. PT distributes less heavily than PV to BST and to the amygdala, but much more densely to the medial prefrontal and entorhinal cortices and to the ventral subiculum of hippocampus. As described herein, PV/PT receive a vast array of afferents from the brainstem, hypothalamus, and limbic forebrain, related to arousal and attentive states of the animal, and would appear to channel that information to structures of the limbic forebrain in the selection of appropriate responses to changing environmental conditions.
    [Show full text]