Organization of visual cortex in the mouse revealed by correlating callosal and striate-extrastriate connections

Abstract

In this study, we have investigated the organization of mouse visual cortex by correlating in detail the distribution of striate-extrastriate projections with the pattern of callosal connections revealed by the transport of horseradish peroxidase from the contralateral hemisphere. Single injections of 3H-proline into striate cortex produce 8-9 discrete projection fields in the belt of cortex surrounding area 17. The number and arrangement of these fields closely resemble the pattern of extrastriate visual areas in the rat. The callosal pattern is also very similar to that in the rat, and provides a set of landmarks for the location of the striate-recipient zones. Thus, cortical regions containing dense aggregations of callosal cells and terminations surround totally or partially the sparsely callosal striate-recipient zones. By comparing our results with previous accounts of the rat visual plan, we were able to identify in lateral extrastriate cortex of the mouse areas anterolateral (AL), lateromedial (LM), laterointermediate (LI), laterolateral (LL), posterolateral (PL), and posterior (P). We also observed 1-2 projections fields into anteromedial (AM) extrastriate cortex, and one field (S) into the posteromedial border of the head representation in primary somatosensory cortex. Our results support the notions that the visual cortex in the mouse is subdivided into multiple visual areas, and that these areas are arranged according to a plan that is common in rodents.