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Assessment of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections by transoesophageal echocardiography in infants and children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of transoesophageal echocardiography in the preoperative definition of systemic and pulmonary venous connections. DESIGN: Transoesophageal echocardiographic studies were performed prospectively under general anaesthesia in 76 consecutive unoperated children. Results were compared with those obtained by earlier transthoracic ultrasound studies (n = 76), cardiac catheterisation (n = 62), and subsequent surgical inspection (n = 58). SETTING: Two tertiary referral centres. PATIENTS: 76 unoperated infants and children (age 0.2-14.8 years, mean age 4.1 years) with congenital heart disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Identification of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections. RESULTS: Transoesophageal studies showed anomalous venous connections in 14 patients. Two had both anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections. Transoesophageal studies showed 12 anomalous systemic venous connections in nine patients. In eight patients these were confirmed at operation or catheterisation: one patient is awaiting operation. Six anomalous systemic venous connections were missed during earlier transthoracic studies. Anomalous pulmonary venous connections (one mixed total, six partial) were shown in seven patients. These were confirmed at operation in six and by cardiac catheterisation in one. Four of these patients were missed during earlier transthoracic ultrasound studies. No patient defined as having normal venous connections by the transoesophageal study was subsequently shown to have anomalous venous connections at operation or angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Transoesophageal echocardiography is a highly sensitive tool for the preoperative definition of systemic and pulmonary venous connections. In this series it was better than transthoracic ultrasound and complemented cardiac catheterisation and angiocardiography.

Adolescent↗

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular connections in 250 patients. Abbreviated therapeutic approach to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report the results and complications of radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular (AV) connections by using an abbreviated approach aimed at minimizing the duration of the procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred fifty consecutive patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia involving a concealed accessory AV connection underwent catheter ablation with the use of radiofrequency current. In 179 of the 250 patients, catheter ablation was performed at the time of an initial electrophysiology test. Two hundred thirty-five patients had one accessory AV connection and 15 patients had two or more. One hundred eighty-three accessory AV connections were manifest and 84 were concealed. One hundred sixty-one were were located in the free wall of the left ventricle, 47 were in the right free wall, 44 were posteroseptal, 10 were anteroseptal, and five were intermediate test, and the ablation procedure was recorded for each patient, as was the total duration of fluoroscopy. A follow-up electrophysiology test was performed 2-3 months after the ablation procedure. Ninety-four percent of patients had all accessory AV connections successfully ablated and remained free of symptomatic tachycardia during a mean follow-up of 10 +/- 4 months. Two hundred nineteen patients (88%) had all accessory AV connections ablated during the initial attempt at catheter ablation. Mean duration of the entire procedure was 134 +/- 75 minutes. Procedure duration was longest in patients with multiple accessory AV connections, shortest in patients with intermediate septal accessory AV connections, and similar in all other locations. A nonfatal complication occurred in nine patients (4%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that catheter ablation of accessory AV connections with radiofrequency current can be performed safely and expeditiously in a majority of patients and confirm in a large series the feasibility of catheter ablation at the time of an initial diagnostic electrophysiology test. This abbreviated therapeutic approach avoids the need for electropharmacological testing, long-term antiarrhythmic drug therapy, and surgical therapy in the majority of patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or with symptomatic tachycardias involving accessory AV connections.

Adult↗

Lack of patchy horizontal connectivity in primary visual cortex of a mammal without orientation maps.

In the cerebral cortex of mammals, horizontal connections link cells up to several millimeters apart. In primary visual cortex (V1) of mammals with orientation maps, horizontal connections ramify in periodic patches across the cortical surface, connecting cells with similar orientation preferences. Rodents have orientation-selective cells but lack orientation maps, raising questions about relationships of horizontal connections to functional maps and receptive field properties. To address these questions, we studied anatomy of horizontal connections and characterized horizontal functional interactions in V1 of the gray squirrel, a highly visual rodent. Long-range intrinsic connections in squirrel V1 extended 1-2 mm but were not patchy or periodic. This result suggests that periodic and patchy connectivity is not a universal organizing principle of cortex, and the existence of patchy and periodic connectivity and functional maps may be linked. In multielectrode and intracellular recordings, we found evidence of unselective local interactions among cells, similar to pinwheel centers of carnivores. These data suggest that, in mammals with and without orientation maps, local connections link near neighbors without regard to orientation selectivity. In single-unit recordings, we found length-summing and end-stopped cells that were similar to those in other mammals. Length-summing cell surrounds were orientation selective, whereas surrounds of end-stopped cells were not. Receptive field response classes are quite similar across mammals, and therefore patchy and columnar connectivity may not be essential for these properties.

Animals↗

Quantitative investigation of connections of the prefrontal cortex in the human and macaque using probabilistic diffusion tractography.

The functions of prefrontal cortex (PFC) areas are constrained by their anatomical connections. There is little quantitative information about human PFC connections, and, instead, our knowledge of primate PFC connections is derived from tracing studies in macaques. The connections of subcortical areas, in which white matter penetration and hence diffusion anisotropy are greatest, can be studied with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) tractography. We therefore used DWI tractography in four macaque and 10 human hemispheres to compare the connections of PFC regions with nine subcortical regions, including several fascicles and several subcortical nuclei. A distinct connection pattern was identified for each PFC and each subcortical region. Because some of the fascicles contained connections with posterior cortical areas, it was also possible to draw inferences about PFC connection patterns with posterior cortical areas. Notably, it was possible to identify similar circuits centered on comparable PFC regions in both species; PFC regions probably engage in similar patterns of regionally specific functional interaction with other brain areas in both species. In the case of one area traditionally assigned to the human PFC, the pars opercularis, the distribution of connections was not reminiscent of any macaque PFC region but, instead, resembled the pattern for macaque ventral premotor area. Some limitations to the DWI approach were apparent; the high diffusion anisotropy in the corpus callosum made it difficult to compare connection probability values in the adjacent cingulate region.

Adult↗

Columnar specificity of intrinsic horizontal and corticocortical connections in cat visual cortex.

A prominent and stereotypical feature of cortical circuitry in the striate cortex is a plexus of long-range horizontal connections, running for 6-8 mm parallel to the cortical surface, which has a clustered distribution. This is seen for both intrinsic cortical connections within a particular cortical area and the convergent and divergent connections running between area 17 and other cortical areas. To determine if these connections are related to the columnar functional architecture of cortex, we combined labeling of the horizontal connections by retrograde transport of rhodamine-filled latex microspheres (beads) and labeling of the orientation columns by 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography. We first mapped the distribution of orientation columns in a small region of area 17 or 18, then made a small injection of beads into the center of an orientation column of defined specificity, and after allowing for retrograde transport, labeled vertical orientation columns with the 2-deoxyglucose technique. The retrogradely labeled cells were confined to regions of orientation specificity similar to that of the injection site, indicating that the horizontal connections run between columns of similar orientation specificity. This relationship was demonstrated for both the intrinsic horizontal and corticocortical connections. The extent of the horizontal connections, which allows single cells to integrate information over larger parts of the visual field than that covered by their receptive fields, and the functional specificity of the connections, suggests possible roles for these connections in visual processing.

Animals↗

Expression of connective tissue growth factor in intra-abdominal adhesions.

PURPOSE: Connective tissue growth factor stimulates fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition in many fibrotic disorders. The aim of our study was to determine the expression pattern of connective tissue growth factor in postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions. METHODS: Adhesions were created in 46 Sprague-Dawley rats by complete dissection and resuturing of a peritoneal patch 2 cm in diameter, lateral from the midline incision. Animals were killed at postoperative Days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 and the adhesions scored on a scale of 0 to 5. Tissue samples from adhesion areas and from uninvolved peritoneum were evaluated by Northern and Western blotting for temporal connective tissue growth factor mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed for connective tissue growth factor localization. RESULTS: Adhesions formed in all animals after surgery and were confined to the peritoneal patches. Adhesion formation increased across time, with significant correlation between adhesion scores and postoperative days (r = 0.329, P = 0.026). Connective tissue growth factor mRNA concentrations were significantly elevated in adhesion tissue throughout the three-week period when compared with normal peritoneum (P = 0.012); peak levels occurred between Days 6 and 15. Western blots demonstrated connective tissue growth factor protein expression in adhesions from Days 6 to 21, in contrast to negligible bands in normal peritoneum. Fibroblasts within the adhesive tissue, but not in uninjured peritoneum, stained positive for connective tissue growth factor by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a specific temporal and spatial expression pattern for connective tissue growth factor in intra-abdominal adhesions during a three-week postoperative time course. According to what is known about the functional role of connective tissue growth factor in fibrogenesis, our findings warrant further investigations addressing a causal relationship between this growth factor and fibrous adhesion formation.

Animals↗

Connective tissue growth factor and renal diseases: some answers, more questions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) has recently received much attention as a possible key determinant of progressive renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism(s) by which this growth factor functions is not known. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss the recent findings regarding the possible mechanisms involved. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging evidence from in-vitro studies of renal cells indicates that connective tissue growth factor is a crucial mediator for transforming growth factor-beta-induced cellular dysfunction, manifest by increased cellular hypertrophy, synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and their deposition and assembly around the cells. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that the interrelationship between connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta is stronger than first thought. While transforming growth factor-beta induces the expression of connective tissue growth factor, the latter plays a key role in both bioactivation of latent transforming growth factor-beta and the promotion of its Smad signalling activity. SUMMARY: Connective tissue growth factor is clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive renal disease. Although there is much to learn about the production, function, and mechanism of action of connective tissue growth factor, some progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of its relationship with transforming growth factor-beta. Elucidating the signal transduction pathways activated by connective tissue growth factor will also definitely help to clarify other actions of connective tissue growth factor which may be independent of transforming growth factor-beta. Because of the inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of transforming growth factor-beta, connective tissue growth factor seems to be an attractive alternative therapeutic target for combating renal fibrosis.

Animals↗

Proliferative activities of epithelial and connective tissue cells in the rat periodontal regeneration using argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions staining.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It is still an open question why long junctional epithelium can proliferate and occupies the root surface following periodontal surgery or experimentally produced periodontitis, and why the epithelium repopulated once on the root surface is replaced by the connective tissue. The aim of this study is to investigate the proliferative activity of the newly formed regenerative connective tissue and long junctional epithelium during wound healing by staining argyrophilic proteins of the nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). METHODS: Regenerative connective tissue and long junctional epithelium were experimentally created by insertion of a rubber piece between maxillary molars of rats for 1 week. After removal of the rubber, AgNORs parameters including nuclear area (NA), AgNORs area (AA), AgNORs percentage nuclear area (APNA), AgNORs number (AN) and nuclear number (NN) in regenerative connective tissue and long junctional epithelium were measured and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: APNA in long junctional epithelium after 1 and 4 weeks was over two times greater than that in the regenerative connective tissue. AA in long junctional epithelium was significantly higher than in regenerative connective tissue at 1 and at 4 weeks post-treatment. AN was higher in the central portion than at the root surface except at 20 weeks. APNA and AA decreased remarkably in long junctional epithelium at 12 weeks post-treatment (approximately half at 4 weeks), whereas in regenerative connective tissue, they did not change distinctly. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that long junctional epithelium cannot supply sufficient epithelial cells because of their significantly low rates of proliferation, consequently long junctional epithelium becomes shorter after 12 weeks, whereas the proliferative activity of regenerative connective tissue maintains the same level of proliferation, and ultimately long junctional epithelium is replaced by regenerative connective tissue.

Animals↗

Coronary spastic angina in patients with connective tissue disease.

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue disease, which is an inflammatory condition represented by C-reactive protein (CRP), is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to examine if there is a relationship between connective tissue disease and coronary spastic angina, and whether the inflammatory condition was associated with ischemic heart disease, even in patients with connective tissue disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 73 consecutive patients with connective tissue disease who were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine between April 2000 and March 2003. Of the 73 patients, 38 (19 men, 19 women) were diagnosed as having an ischemic heart disease (7 patients acute coronary syndrome, 19 patients coronary spastic angina, 12 patients stable exertional angina). In the present study, 19 (50.0%) of the 38 patients of ischemic heart disease were diagnosed as having coronary spastic angina. In the same study period, 151 (38.7%) of 390 patients with ischemic heart disease (without connective tissue disease) were diagnosed as having coronary spastic angina. The frequency of the patients with coronary spastic angina tended to be higher in patients with connective tissue disease than in patients without connective tissue disease. Among the study patients, serum CRP concentrations (mg/dl) were higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (1.50 +/- 1.19, n=7) and those with coronary spastic angina (1.06 +/- 1.78, n=19) than in those with non-ischemia (0.35 +/- 0.40, n=35, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary spastic angina is a frequent complication in patients with connective tissue disease and the inflammatory condition is associated with coronary spastic angina and unstable angina in patients with connective tissue disease.

Aged↗

[Experimental studies on healing process of plication technique at postdiscal connective tissue of TMJ in Macaca fuscata].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the healing process following application of the plication technique at the postdiscal connective tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Female monkeys (Macaca fuscata) approximately eight years old were subjected to bilateral TMJ operations. The plication technique was performed in the left joint of each animal. In the right TMJ, the only operation performed was the exposure of the upper joint cavity. Results. 1) No synovial cells occurred on any upper surfaces of postdiscal connective tissue in left, first-week, postsurgical specimens. No synovial cells were observed in the area from the lateral to the middle upper surface of postdiscal connective tissues in specimens taken from the control side. Synovial cells gradually regenerated from the outside and, by the fourth postsurgical week, all of them had recovered in specimens from both sides. 2) During the early period, fibrin precipitation, round cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, and vascularization occurred in the plicated region. But these symptoms gradually decreased; and, by the twenty-fourth postsurgical week, collagen fibers surrounded the sutures. In the upper cavity, sutures were covered by newly proliferated connective tissue four weeks after surgery. The giant cells that proliferated around sutures in the fourth week increased gradually. 3) From the first postsurgical week, connective tissue proliferated in the lateral and middle parts of the superior postdiscal connective tissue in the right joint. Similar proliferation occurred in the left joint in the inner side of plicated region. Round cell infiltration took place in these connective tissue in the early period but gradually decreased. As this occurred, numbers of fat cells increased. No significant difference was noticed between proliferation in the right and left joints. No adhesion to the synovium in the glenoid fossa was observed. 4) In the first postsurgical week, connective tissue proliferated bilaterally from the posterior edges of both the glenoid fossa and the postdiscal tissue. In the second and fourth postsurgical weeks, connective tissue proliferation formed a fold narrowing the upper joint cavity. 5) Synovial cells were absent from the lateral to the middle region of both glenoid fossa from the first postsurgical week. Regeneration took place from the outside, and all synovial cells had recovered by the fourth postsurgical week. Disappearance of synovial cells was more extensive in the left than in the right glenoid fossa. 6) Round cell infiltration, vascularization, collagen fiber hyalinization, and hyperplasia of the fibrous covering occurred in the lateral part of the fibrous covering of the glenoid fossa but gradually decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Connective tissue framework of the greater omentum].

Tissue samples of the greater omentum were intraoperatively collected from 17 patients on whom laparotomy was performed for different indications. The connective tissue framework of the unstained omentum was investigated, using a stereomicroscope. Histological sections were prepared from large saw-cuts of the plastinated omentum. The greater omentum of man was found to possess a connective tissue framework with blood and lymphatic vessels and was also found to be embedded in adipose tissue. The latter is made up of fatty organs differentiated in size. Round to oval organs are formed by fat cells. These organs are delimitated from their environment by a tender connective tissue capsule and are connected, through a pedunculated structure, to a vascular cord of the connective tissue framework. Connective tissue fibres radiate from the framework into the capsule which is made up of a submesothelial connective tissue layer and the mesothelium. The peduncle of a fatty organ consists of connective tissue as well as of supplying blood and lymphatic vessels. Fatty organs surrounded by connective tissue fibres were visualised even in highly adipose regions by means of plastinated saw-cuts of the greater omentum.

Adipose Tissue↗

Topographic patterns of V2 cortical connections in macaque monkeys.

Patterns of connections of dorsal and ventral portions of the second visual area (V2) were used to evaluate and extend current theories of cortical organization and processing streams in macaque monkeys. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and up to four different fluorochromes in V2 labeled neurons and terminations in V2 and in 1) caudal (DLc) and rostral (DLr) subdivisions of dorsolateral cortex between V2 and the middle temporal area (MT); 2) regions we define as dorsomedial (DM) and dorsointermediate (DI) areas; 3) MT, medial superior temporal area (MST), and fundal superior temporal area (FST); 4) the dorsal part of inferior temporal (TEO) cortex; and 5) two locations in posterior parietal cortex. The largest extrastriate connection zone was DLc, which occupied the caudal one-third to one-half of the fourth visual area (V4) region of other proposals. Based on the connection pattern, foveal vision in DLc is represented adjacent to foveal vision in V2, with the lower quadrant represented dorsally and the upper quadrant ventrally, as in V2, but within a much less extensive region of cortex. The sparser connections of DLr formed a more compressed but parallel visuotopic pattern. A third visuotopic pattern of connections was located in a moderately myelinated region of cortex just rostral to dorsomedial V2. Whereas the region would include parts of dorsal visual area 3 (V3), V3a, and possibly other areas of other proposals, we interpret the connection pattern as reflecting a dorsomedial visual area, DM, with foveal vision represented caudolaterally and other parts of the lower and upper quadrants represented more medially and rostrally. A fourth pattern of label in dorsointermediate cortex suggested the location and organization of another visual area (DI). Most of a fifth connection pattern with MT was congruent with the known visuotopic organization of MT area, but visuotopically mismatched foci of connections were observed as well. Sparser foci of label in MST suggested a rostrodorsal representation of foveal vision, with paracentral vision represented more caudally. Separate dorsal and ventral foci of label in FST were consistent with previous evidence for dorsal (FSTd) and ventral (FSTv) visual areas. Finally, connections with TEO and posterior parietal cortex were sparse. Our results suggest that much of visual cortex organization is similar in New and Old World monkeys.

Animals↗

Topography and connections of the telencephalon in a chondrostean, Acipenser baeri: an experimental study.

Sturgeons belong to an ancient group of the extant actinopterygian fishes. Accordingly, the study of their brain connections is important to understand brain evolution in the line leading to teleosts. We examined the topography and connections of the various telencephalic regions of the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri). The telencephalic regions were characterized on the basis of acetylcholinesterase histochemistry and calbindin-D28k and calretinin immunohistochemistry. The telencephalic connections were investigated by using the fluorescent dye DiI (1,1'-dioctadecyl 3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate) in fixed brains. Application of DiI to different areas of the pallial (dorsal) regions of the telencephalic lobes showed that they have mostly intratelencephalic connections. A posterior pallial region is characterized by its similar hodology to that of the posterior zone of the teleosts dorsal telencephalon and those described in other ancient groups. Extratelencephalic connections of the pallium are scarce, although a few afferent and efferent connections with the diencephalon, mesencephalon, and rostral rhombencephalon were observed. DiI application to subpallial regions showed both intratelencephalic connections and connections with different brain regions. Afferents to the subpallium originate from the olfactory bulbs, preoptic area, thalamus, posterior tuberculum, hypothalamus, secondary gustatory nucleus, and raphe nuclei. Some of these connections are quite similar to those described for other vertebrates.

Acetylcholine↗

The relation of corpus callosum connections to architectonic fields and body surface maps in sensorimotor cortex of new and old world monkeys.

Corpus callosum connections of parietal and motor cortex were studied in New World owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) and Old World macaque monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) after multiple injections of 3H-proline and horseradish peroxidase, HRP, into one cerebral hemisphere, and extensive microelectrode mapping of architectonic Areas 3b, 1, and 2 of the other hemisphere. Results were obtained both from parasagittal brain sections cut orthogonal to the brain surface and from sections from flattened brains cut parallel to the brain surface. Cortical fields varied in density of callosal connections, and the density of connections varied according to body part within sensory representations. Thus, Area 3b had few, Area 1 had more, and Area 2 had relatively dense callosal connections. Within each of these fields, connections were much less dense for the representations of the glabrous hand and foot and much more dense for the representations of the face and trunk. For the representation of the hand, retrogradely labeled cells were extremely sparse in Area 3b, moderately sparse in Area 1, and moderate in Area 2. There were less dense callosal connections in the hand representations of Areas 3b, 1, and 2 in macaque as compared to owl monkeys. Label in posterior parietal cortex was uneven with zones of extremely dense connections. A large region of very dense callosal connections was noted in motor cortex just medial to the probable location of the hand representation. In all regions, callosally projecting cells appeared to be more broadly distributed than callosal terminations. In no region was the discontinuous arrangement of callosal connections obviously organized into an extensive pattern of mediolateral or rostrocaudal bands or strips.

Animals↗

Ipsilateral cortical connections from the second and fourth somatic sensory areas in the cat.

The ipsilateral corticocortical connections of the second and fourth somatic sensory areas (SII and SIV) were traced with the aid of anterograde or retrograde axonal transport techniques involving horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) or tritiated amino acids. The injections were placed into physiological defined components of the body representation in SII or SIV. The results from cases with localized injections into SII showed precise topographically organized, reciprocal connections with SI and motor cortex area 4. The distribution of connections in SI included areas 3a, 3b, and 1-2. A uniform pattern of cell and fiber labeling was seen across area 3b and 1 within the zones that were homotypical to the injection site in SII as though only a single representation of the cutaneous surface of the body existed in SI. Intrinsic connections within SII were also topographically arranged. Additional areas found to be interconnected with SII included, in decreasing order of density: area 5, insula, perirhinal cortex (area 36), and ventrolateral orbital cortex. SII connections with area 6 were seen only in the region of the lateral bank of the presylvian sulcus. There may be interconnections between SII and SIV but these were from possible local intrinsic connections in the AEG. The results from injections involving SIV showed reciprocal connections with area 5, the suprasylvian fringe, insula, dorsolateral orbital area, and area 6. The densest connections for SIV were with area 5. No topography was noted in the connections for SIV.

Animals↗

Organization of the callosal connections of visual areas V1 and V2 in the macaque monkey.

The interhemispheric efferent and afferent connections of the V1/V2 border have been examined in the adult macaque monkey with the tracers horseradish peroxidase and horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin. The V1/V2 border was found to have reciprocal connections with the contralateral visual area V1, as well as with three other cortical sites situated in the posterior bank of the lunate sulcus, the anterior bank of the lunate sulcus, and the posterior bank of the superior temporal sulcus. Within V1, callosal projecting cells were found mainly in layer 4B with a few cells in layer 3. Anterograde labeled terminals were restricted to layers 2, 3, 4B, and 5. In extrastriate cortex, retrograde labeled cells were in layers 2 and 3 and only very rarely in infragranular layers. In the posterior bank of the lunate sulcus, labeled terminals were scattered throughout all cortical layers except layers 1 and 4. In the anterior bank of the lunate sulcus and in the superior temporal sulcus, anterograde labeled terminals were largely focused in layer 4. Callosal connections in all contralateral regions were organized in a columnar fashion. Columnar organization of callosal connections was more apparent for anterograde labeled terminals than for retrograde labeled neurons. In the posterior bank of the lunate sulcus, columns of callosal connections were superimposed on regions of high cytochrome activity. The tangential extent of callosal connections in V1 and V2 was found to be influenced by eccentricity in the visual field. Callosal connections were denser in the region of V1 subserving foveal visual field than in cortex representing the periphery. In V1 subserving the fovea, callosal connections extended up to 2 mm from the V1/V2 border and only up to 1 mm in more peripheral located cortex. In area V2 subserving the fovea, cortical connections extended up to 8 mm from the V1/V2 border and only up to 3 mm in peripheral cortex.

Animals↗

Cortical connections of visual area MT in the macaque.

We have identified the cortical connections of area MT and determined their topographic organization and relationship to myeloarchitectural fields. Efferents of MT were examined in seven macaques that had received injections of tritiated amino acids, and afferents were examined in one macaque that had received injections of two fluorescent dyes. The injection sites formed an orderly sequence from the representation of central to that of peripheral vision in the upper and lower visual fields. In addition to connections with the striate cortex (V1), connections were found between MT and a variety of extrastriate areas, including V2, V3, V3A, V4, V4t, VIP, MST, FST, possibly PO, and, finally, the frontal eye field. The connections of MT with V1, V2, and the dorsal and ventral portions of V3 were topographically organized and consistent with the visuotopic arrangement reported previously in these areas. V2 could be distinguished from V3 by the distinctive myeloarchitectural appearance of the former. Connections with areas V4 and V4t also displayed at least a coarse visuotopic organization, in that the central representation of MT projected laterally in these areas and the peripheral representation projected medially. The lower visual field representation of V4 was located dorsally, on the prelunate convexity, while the upper field representation was located primarily on the ventral aspect of the hemisphere. V4t had a distinctively light myeloarchitecture and received projections from only the lower field representation of MT. The remaining connections of MT were with areas located entirely in the dorsal half of the hemisphere. There were widespread connections with areas MST and FST in the superior temporal sulcus, with some evidence for a crude visuotopic organization in MST. Connections were also found with area VIP in the intraparietal sulcus, with area V3A on the annectent gyrus, possibly with area PO in the dorsomedial prestriate cortex, and, finally, with the frontal eye field on the anterior bank of the lower limb of the arcuate sulcus. Area FST and parts of both MST and VIP had a distinctive myeloarchitecture. The pattern of laminar connections with V1, V2, and V3 indicated that MT projects "back" to these areas and they project "forward" to MT. That is, the projections to these areas from MT terminated in both the supragranular and infragranular layers and the projections to MT from these areas originated predominantly from cells located above granular layer IV (above layer IVC in V1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

Cortical connections of the caudal subdivision of the dorsolateral area (V4) in monkeys.

Evidence suggests that all primates have rostral and caudal subdivisions in the region of visual cortex identified as the dorsolateral area (DL) or V4. However, the connections of DL/V4 have not been examined in terms of these subdivisions. To determine the cortical connections of the caudal subdivision of DL (DLC) in squirrel monkeys, injections of the neuroanatomical tracers wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, Diamidino Yellow, and Fluoro-Gold were made in cortex rostral to V II. To aid in delineating the borders of DLC, cortex was also evaluated architectonically. Based on similar patterns of connections, DLC extends from dorsolateral to ventrolateral cortex. DLC receives strong, feedforward input from V II and projects in a feedforward fashion to the rostral subdivision of DL (DLR) and caudal inferior temporal (IT) cortex, including a separate location in the inferior temporal sulcus. DLC has weaker connections with V I, the middle temporal area (MT), cortex rostral to MT in the location of the fundal superior temporal area (FST), cortex dorsal to DLC, ventral cortex rostral to V II, and cortex in the frontal lobe, lateral to the inferior arcuate sulcus. Only lateral DLC has connections with V I, and only dorsolateral DLC has connections with cortex dorsal to DLC. The topographic organization of DLC was inferred from its connections with V II. Thus, dorsolateral DLC represents the lower field, lateral DLC represents central vision, and ventrolateral DLC represents the upper field. Limited observations were made on DLR. Confirming earlier observations (Cusick and Kaas: Visual Neurosci. 1:211, 1988), DLR is paler than DLC myeloarchitectonically. DLR receives only sparse feedforward input from V II, but stronger input from DLC. DLR has strong connections with cortex just rostral to dorsal V II, ventral posterior parietal cortex in the sylvian fissure, MT, the medial superior temporal area, FST, and the inferior temporal sulcus. DLR also shares connections with IT cortex. Thus, while both DLC and DLR are involved in the pathway relaying visual information to IT cortex, an area specialized for object vision, DLR also projects densely to areas such as MT involved in the pathway relaying to posterior parietal cortex, a region specialized for spatial localization and motion perception.

Amidines↗