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Correlations between the receptive field properties and morphology of neurons in the deep layers of the hamster's superior colliculus
Author(s) -
Mooney Richard D.,
Nikoletseas Michael M.,
King Tod D.,
Savage Steven V.,
Huang Xiaoguang
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.903350206
Subject(s) - receptive field , somatosensory system , superior colliculus , biology , neuroscience , soma , anatomy , hamster , microbiology and biotechnology
Extracellular and intracellular recording, receptive field mapping, and intracellular HRP injection techniques were used to define the morphological classes of cells in the deep laminae of the hamster's superior colliculus and to determine whether there are any correlations between the structural and functional characteristics of these neurons. A total of 110 neurons were characterized and reconstructed. Of these, 23.6% (N = 26) were visual, 60% (N = 66) were somatosensory, 0.9% (N = 1) were bimodal (visual‐somatosensory), and 15.4% (N = 17) were unresponsive. Of the somatosensory neurons, 72.7% (N = 48) were low threshold, 4.5% (N = 3) had a wide dynamic range, 9.1% (N = 6) responded only to noxious stimulation, and 13.6% (N = 9) had complex somatosensory receptive fields. Deep layer cells were divided into eight morphological classes. These classes were multipolar cells (26.4%, N = 29), bipolar cells (9.1%, N = 10), widefield vertical cells (7.3%, N = 8), horizontal cells (13.6%, N = 15), stellate cells (10.9%, N = 12), ventrally directed cells (5.5%, N = 6), sparse radial cells (17.3%, N = 19), and small sparse radial cells (6.4%, N = 7). Four cells (3.6%) did not fit into this classification scheme. Univariate and multivariate analyses of variance of properties such as soma area, number of branch points, total dendritic length, and volume and orientation of dendritic arbor indicated that these classes were significantly different. However, X 2 analysis and multivariate analysis of variance indicated no significant relationships between morphological class and either laminar location or receptive field type. There was a significant positive relationship between the possession of dendrites that extended into the superficial laminae and visual responsivity. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.