Organization of tectospinal neurons in the cat and rat superior colliculus

摘要: Abstract Neurons in the superior colliculus which send axons to spinal cord wereidentified by retrograde axonal transport method. Injections of tracer, horseradish peroxidase, made into different levels cervical indicate that spinally projecting neurons are topographically organized. Tectospinal rostral segments found over a larger extent contralateral than those terminating enlargement. The tectospinal projection enlargement both rats and cats arises almost exclusively from caudolateral quadrant colliculus, whereas tectal (upper) originates, cats, entire and, rats, its greater part. No evidence for projections thoracic or lumbar was found. In context hypothesis that, these species, head body movements orient animal toward stimuli environment may be mediated data consistent with view direct connections play role such movements.