Fiber connections of the anterior preglomerular nucleus in cyprinids with notes on telencephalic connections of the preglomerular complex

Abstract

Fiber connections of the anterior preglomerular nucleus (PGa) were studied in carp and goldfish by tracer injection experiments to the nucleus and telencephalon. The PGa received fibers from the central nucleus of semicircular torus, perilemniscular nucleus, anterior tuberal nucleus, and medial pretoral nucleus, all of which are presumed auditory structures. The PGa projected to the dorsal (dDm) and ventral (vDm) regions of medial part of dorsal telencephalic area. The caudomedial region of lateral preglomerular nucleus (PGl) and medial zone of medial preglomerular nucleus (PGm), which also receive auditory toral fibers, projected to the same telencephalic regions as did PGa. These preglomerular structures and the PGa also received in common descending fibers from a rostromedial portion of dDm. The PGa also received fibers from the parvocellular and magnocellular preoptic nuclei, and suprachiasmatic nucleus and projected to the anterior tuberal nucleus and medial inferior lobe, suggesting neurohormonal and circadian control on the PGa and auditory influences on hypothalamic functions. Of other diencephalic nuclei that receive auditory toral fibers, only small numbers of neurons were labeled in the central posterior thalamic nucleus and anterior tuberal nucleus even after large injections to the dorsal telencephalic area. Thus, the PGa and closely related preglomerular regions, not the dorsal thalamus, appear to constitute the major auditory relay station to the dorsal telencephalic area. The rostrolateral region of PGl, rostral and lateral zones of PGm, commissural preglomerular nucleus, and preglomerular tertiary gustatory nucleus, which do not receive auditory toral fibers, also projected to the dorsal telencephalic area.