Somatosensory thalamus of a prosimian primate (Galago senegalensis). I. Configuration of nuclei and termination of spinothalamic fibers.

Abstract

The configuration of somatosensory relay nuclei and termination of spinothalamic fibers were studied in the dorsal thalamus of a prosimian primate(Galago senegalensis) using Nissl, Klüver and Barrera ('53), Weil ('45), and Fink and Heimer ('67) methods. The ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) is divided into medial and lateral parts (VPLm and VPLl, respectively) by a sheet-like lamina of fibers. Spinothalamic input to Galago VPL is somatopically arranged; input from the forelimb terminates in VPLm and that from hindlimb in VPLl. In addition, preterminal debris in caudal VPL is dense and organized into "parcellated bursts" (terminology of Mehler, '69). Consequently, the nature of the spinothalamic debris in VPL of Galago is similar to that reported for higher primates (Mehler et al., '60). Located dorsomedial to the rostral extension of VPL is a zone of large, deeply staining cells designated as the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim). Following hemisection at either cervical or lumbar spinal cord levels, preterminal debris, independent of that coursing into VPL, enters the Vim. This substantiates the presence of an intermediate nucleus (i.e., Vim) between VPL and the more rostral ventral lateral nucleus. In the medial thalamic region, axonal degeneration is located in the central lateral nucleus (CL) and in the densocellular and the multiform portions of the dorsomedial nucleus. Only fibers of passage are identified in the centre median, the paracentral and the subparacentral nuclei. The posterior nuclear group (PO) in Galago is divided into medial and lateral parts designated as POm and POl, respectively. In addition, PO contains three distinct nuclei: 1) the magnocellular (MC) portion of the medial geniculate nucleus; 2) the nucleus limitans (Lim); and 3) the suprageniculate nucleus (SG). Following spinal cord hemisection, preterminal debris is located throughout the POm and around cells of the MC. Lim and SG contain no discernible degeneration. Preterminals are also found in a group of cells designated as the caudal part of the central lateral nucleus (CLC).