Corticopontine visual projections in macaque monkeys

Abstract

These experiments were designed to study the projections to the pons from visual and visual association cortex of monkeys by degeneration staining and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) methods. When lesions were made in these cortical visual areas, degenerated fibers were found in the rostral dorsolateral area of the pontine nuclei. When HRP was injected among visually responsive cells in this region of the pons, layer V cortical pyramidal cells were labeled. These labeled cells were concentrated most heavily on both banks of the superior temporal and intraparietal fissures, and on the rostral bank of the parieto-occipital fissure. The efferent targets and receptive field properties of these cortical regions are consistent with their possible role in visual guidance of movement.