The long term objectives of this research program are to elucidate the neural circuits formed, and neurotransmitters used, by retinal and non- retinal afferents, interneurons, and geniculo-cortical relay cells in the thalamic visual relay, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). These circuits constitute the morphological and neurochemical substrate for the transfer functions of visual information form the retina to the cortex in the LGN. Continuing with our studies on inhibitory circuits in LGN, the proposed projects will analyze the synaptic relations of two different types of GABAergic interneurons of cat LGN: The type 3 GABA-immunoreactive interneurons in the laminar regions of the geniculate and the GABA- immunoreactive interneurons in the laminar regions of the geniculate and the GABA-immunoreactive interneurons resident in the interlaminar zones of the geniculate. The different location and morphology of these cells suggest that they have different functions in the inhibitory interactions in LGN, the understanding of which requires knowledge of their synaptic relations with other neural elements in this nucleus. Synaptic inputs into these interneurons form retinal and non-retinal afferents, and synaptic outputs of these cells on relay cells or other interneurons, will be studied at electron microscopic level in material double-labeled with the Golgi gold-toning method and with BABA immunocytochemistry using peroxidase-antiperoxidase or immunogold methods. A second main goal of the proposal is to determine the neural circuits established by Y-retinogeniculate axons with relay cells and interneurons and cat LGN. These data will be useful to understand the transfer functions and inhibitory interactions along Y streams in LGN. Y- retinogeniculate axons will be physiologically classified and intracellularly injected with HRP. The synaptic relations of HRP-labeled Y-retinal terminals with GABA+ interneurons and with BABA (-) relay cells will be examined at EM level in serial ultrathin sections, some of which will be treated with a post-embedding GABA immunogold method. The postsynaptic neurons will be partially reconstructed to visualize their morphology, and will be analyzed with respect to innervation divergency by the labeled Y-axon, innervation convergency by labeled and non-labeled retinal terminals, and with respect to synaptic inputs from non-retinal terminals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY002877-13
Application #
2158546
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1979-02-01
Project End
1997-06-30
Budget Start
1993-07-01
Budget End
1997-06-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Montero, V M (1997) c-fos induction in sensory pathways of rats exploring a novel complex environment: shifts of active thalamic reticular sectors by predominant sensory cues. Neuroscience 76:1069-81
Montero, V M; Jian, S (1995) Induction of c-fos protein by patterned visual stimulation in central visual pathways of the rat. Brain Res 690:189-99
Montero, V M (1994) Quantitative immunogold evidence for enrichment of glutamate but not aspartate in synaptic terminals of retino-geniculate, geniculo-cortical, and cortico-geniculate axons in the cat. Vis Neurosci 11:675-81
Montero, V M (1993) Retinotopy of cortical connections between the striate cortex and extrastriate visual areas in the rat. Exp Brain Res 94:1-15
Montero, V M (1991) A quantitative study of synaptic contacts on interneurons and relay cells of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. Exp Brain Res 86:257-70
Olavarria, J; Montero, V (1990) Elaborate organization of visual cortex in the hamster. Neurosci Res 8:40-7
Montero, V M (1990) Quantitative immunogold analysis reveals high glutamate levels in synaptic terminals of retino-geniculate, cortico-geniculate, and geniculo-cortical axons in the cat. Vis Neurosci 4:437-43
Montero, V M (1989) Ultrastructural identification of synaptic terminals from cortical axons and from collateral axons of geniculo-cortical relay cells in the perigeniculate nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 75:65-72
Olavarria, J; Montero, V M (1989) Organization of visual cortex in the mouse revealed by correlating callosal and striate-extrastriate connections. Vis Neurosci 3:59-69
Montero, V M; Wenthold, R J (1989) Quantitative immunogold analysis reveals high glutamate levels in retinal and cortical synaptic terminals in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the macaque. Neuroscience 31:639-47

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