The thalamic connectivity of the primary motor cortex (MI) in the raccoon.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of thalamic projections of the primary motor cortex (MI) in the raccoon, a carnivore species noted for neural specialization of sensorimotor function. Following electrophysiological identification of circumscribed regions of MI, injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or HRP combined with tritiated amino acids were made in 15 animals. Labeled thalamic cells were found predominantly in the ventral lateral nucleus (VL). For a given cortical injection site within MI, labeled neurons in VL formed a crescent-shaped band which extended in a dorsoventral direction when viewed in coronal sections. These bands were topographically organized. Following an injection of the MI hindlimb area in the medial part of the posterior cruciate gyrus, both retrogradely labeled neurons and anterograde label formed a thin band at the lateral edge of VL while an injection of the MI face area in the lateral part of the anterior cruciate gyrus resulted in both anterograde and retrograde label in medial VL and the principal division of the ventromedial nucleus (VMp). An injection of the MI forepaw area localized to the rostral and central part of the posterior cruciate gyrus resulted in a band of labeled neurons occupying the dorsal extent of VL and continuing into the ventrolateral aspect of the ventral anterior nucleus (VA). In contrast, an injection of the MI forepaw area which was localized to the caudal extent of the posterior cruciate gyrus resulted in a wide and diffuse band of labeled neurons and anterograde label in the ventral portion of VL. All injection of MI produced cell labeling in the paracentral nucleus (PC) and the central lateral nucleus (CL) of the intralaminar group. These results demonstrate that VL is the primary thalamic dependency of MI in the raccoon. Labeled cells were not observed in the ventrobasal complex. The MI pattern of thalamic connectivity observed in the present study suggests that while differences exist in the regional specialization of sensorimotor structures among species, there appears to be little variation in the overall organization of thalamocortical relations.