Some golgi observations in the nucleus anterior ventralis and anterior medialis thalami of the cat.

Abstract

The characteristic dendritic arborization of different cell types, the axon arborization of Golgi type II neurons, and the terminal parts of the specific and non-specific afferents in the nucleus anterior ventralis and medialis were observed, using the Golgi-Kopsch perfusion method. The cell types and their special characteristics, such as the dendritic tree, dendritic processes and axon-arborization patterns are similar to those described in the other specific nuclei of the thalamus. The significance of Golgi type II/a cells and their synaptic relations are discussed from the point of view of inhibitory mechanisms postulated in the thalamic relay nuclei. The synaptic articulations of specific (Vicq d'Azyr) and non-specific afferents with the different cell types have been studied.