The goal of the proposed project is to provide experimental data on the fine structural organization of subcortical afferents in the individual subdivisions of the motor thalamus in non-human primates. The project is specifically focused on the identification and characterization of basal ganglia (pallidal and nigral) and cerebellar (from individual deep cerebellar nuclei) afferents to the motor thalamus and distribution of their synaptic terminals on the two types of cells: thalamocortical projection neurons and local circuit neurons. These data are needed for understanding the organization of the neuronal circuity involved in the motor control at the thalamic level. The project is justified by the fact that such information is currently lacking in regard to primates and generalizations, based on the data obtained in other species, are invalid: the light microscopic data indicate that the topographical relationships of subcortical afferents in the primate motor thalamus essentially differ from that in lower mammals and a few available EM observations suggest that the synaptic organization in the primate motor thalamus is more complex than that in nonprimate species. We propose: (1) to study the features and the termination mode of axon terminals of pallidal, nigral, and cerebellar efferents in individual cytoarchitectural subdivisions of the motor thalamus after their identification by EM autoradiography; (2) to analyze quantitatively the density and distribution of specific afferent terminals on different type thalamic neurons in individual motor nuclei; (3) to determine at the light and EM levels qualitative and quantitative features of thalamocortical projection neurons identified by retrograde HRP labeling from the cortex; (4) to gain understanding on light and EM features of local circuit neurons and their relationships with projection neurons in individual motor thalamic nuclei using HRP and GAD immunocytochemistry experiments; and (5) to compare qualitative and quantitative parameters of synaptic organization in individual subdivisions of the primate motor thalamus. The results of these studies will provide information on the organization of motor control at the thalamic level in primates which is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of dyskinetic disorders in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS024188-01
Application #
3408484
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1987-01-01
Project End
1989-12-31
Budget Start
1987-01-01
Budget End
1987-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041294109
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Kultas-Ilinsky, K; Reising, L; Yi, H et al. (1997) Pallidal afferent territory of the Macaca mulatta thalamus: neuronal and synaptic organization of the VAdc. J Comp Neurol 386:573-600
Ilinsky, I A; Yi, H; Kultas-Ilinsky, K (1997) Mode of termination of pallidal afferents to the thalamus: a light and electron microscopic study with anterograde tracers and immunocytochemistry in Macaca mulatta. J Comp Neurol 386:601-12
Balercia, G; Kultas-Ilinsky, K; Bentivoglio, M et al. (1996) Neuronal and synaptic organization of the centromedian nucleus of the monkey thalamus: a quantitative ultrastructural study, with tract tracing and immunohistochemical observations. J Neurocytol 25:267-88
Mason, A; Ilinsky, I A; Beck, S et al. (1996) Reevaluation of synaptic relationships of cerebellar terminals in the ventral lateral nucleus of the rhesus monkey thalamus based on serial section analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction. Exp Brain Res 109:219-39
Ilinsky, I A; Tourtellotte, W G; Kultas-Ilinsky, K (1993) Anatomical distinctions between the two basal ganglia afferent territories in the primate motor thalamus. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 60:62-9
Slobodyansky, E; Kurriger, G; Kultas-Ilinsky, K (1992) Diazepam binding inhibitor processing in the rhesus monkey brain: an immunocytochemical study. J Chem Neuroanat 5:169-80
Kultas-Ilinsky, K; Ilinsky, I A (1991) Fine structure of the ventral lateral nucleus (VL) of the Macaca mulatta thalamus: cell types and synaptology. J Comp Neurol 314:319-49
Tourtellotte, W G (1990) A versatile dual axis programmable stepping motor controller for a personal computer: a specific application and tutorial for implementing a computer-controlled light microscope. J Neurosci Methods 35:157-67
Ilinsky, I A; Kultas-Ilinsky, K (1990) Fine structure of the magnocellular subdivision of the ventral anterior thalamic nucleus (VAmc) of Macaca mulatta: I. Cell types and synaptology. J Comp Neurol 294:455-78