Morphological and functional types of neurons in cat ventral posterior thalamic nucleus

摘要: Neurons in the thalamic ventral posterior (VB) nucleus of cat were investigated by extracellular and intracellular recording anatomical methods involving either retrograde transport horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or injection HRP. Two morphological types neurons could be detected labeling from small injections HRP internal capsule adjacent to VB. These two one other type, judged an interneuron, also identified staining. Type I cells are large, have thick proximal dendrites which branch a tuft-like manner, thick, rapidly conducting axons. They possess few no dendritic appendages. II smaller slender dichotomously thin, slower Those injected intracellularly covered fine, hair-like III thin processes that give rise many bulbous dilatations obvious axon. type off axon collaterals reticular but not Examples both cell antidromically activated somatic sensory cortex. recovered histologically after included examples most receptive field, including several forms cutaneous deep fields, as classified us parallel intra- study unit responses. All cell, however, responded transient manner peripheral stimulation. The remaining all members admittedly sample sustained manner. interneurons units driven cerebral cortex suggested they, too, field types. We conclude submodality specificity VB is represented thalamocortical relay interneurons. Some functional parameter, such tonic phasic responsiveness, may more obviously correlated with morphology.