Chemoarchitecture of the middle temporal visual area in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus): Laminar distribution of calcium‐binding proteins (calbindin, parvalbumin) and nonphosphorylated neurofilament

Abstract

We studied the distributions of interneurons containing the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin and calbindin D-28k, as well as that of pyramidal neurons containing nonphosphorylated neurofilament (NNF), in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of marmoset monkeys. The distributions of these classes of cells in MT are distinct from those found in adjacent areas. Similar to the primary visual area (V1), in MT, calbindin-immunopositive neurons can be objectively classified into "dark" and "light" subtypes based on optical density of stained cell bodies. Calbindin-positive dark neurons are particularly concentrated in layers 2 and 3, whereas light neurons have a more widespread distribution. In addition, a subcategory of calbindin-positive dark neuron, characterized by a "halo" of stained processes surrounding the cell body, is found within and around layer 4 of MT and V1. These cells are rare in most other visual areas. In comparison, parvalbumin-immunopositive cells in area MT have a relatively homogeneous distribution, although with a trend toward higher spatial density in lower layer 3, and are relatively uniform in terms of density of staining. Finally, MT shows a characteristic trilaminar distribution of NNF-immunopositive pyramidal cells, with stained cell bodies evident in layers 3, 5, and 6. Although the laminar distribution of cells stained for the three markers overlap to some extent, these subcategories can be readily distinguished in terms of morphology, including cell body size. Chemoarchitectural parallels observed between MT and V1 suggest comparable physiological requirements and neuronal circuitry.

Distribution of neurofilament proteins in the lateral geniculate nucleus, primary visual cortex, and area MT of adult Cebus monkeys

“…We compare our results with those described in Macaca as well as in squirrel monkey (Duffy and Livingstone, 2003) and marmoset (Bourne and Rosa, 2003;Bourne et al, 2007). Smaller New World monkeys like marmoset show a weaker degree of laminar organization in the LGN and a lack or weaker degree of eye input segregation in layer 4 in the primary visual cortex.…”

“…In contrast, in smaller New World monkeys, fewer cortical fields are present in the corresponding parietal location. It has been suggested that there are differences in the chemoarchitectural pattern even between members of the same order and that these are important in tracing evolutionary adaptations and phylogenetic relationships (Bourne et al, 2007). Thus, the present study, on the distribution of neurofilament protein in the LGN and in areas V1 and MT in Cebus, will allow comparison of the cytochemical organization of these structures in New and Old World monkeys.…”

Neuron Types in the Presumptive Primary Somatosensory Cortex of the Florida Manatee <b><i>(Trichechus manatus latirostris)</i></b>

“…The manatee mainly exhibited light staining in layers IIIc and parts of VI, and heavy staining in layer V, while cetaceans have heavy staining in the combined layer IIIc/V . This pattern differs from what is seen in primates, rodents and carnivores, where staining is more diffusely distributed throughout the cortex wherever there are pyramidal neurons [Campbell and Morrison, 1989;Chaudhuri et al, 1996;Hof et al, 1996;Nimchinsky et al, 1997;Preuss et al, 1997;Budinger et al, 2000;Tsang et al, 2000;Van der Gucht et al, 2001;Sherwood et al, 2004;Baldauf, 2005;Boire et al, 2005;Bourne et al, 2005;Hof and Sherwood, 2005;Bourne et al, 2007;Van der Gucht et al, 2007] but is similar to what is also observed in afrotherians, xenarthrans, monotremes and marsupials Hassiotis et al, 2005;Sherwood et al, 2009]. Primates, rodents and carnivores also have different patterns of NPNFP-ir neuron distribution in different cortical areas [Campbell and Morrison, 1989;Campbell et al, 1991;Hof and Nimchinsky, 1992;Budinger et al, 2000;Van der Gucht et al, 2001, which is not as clearly variable across the cortex in afrotherians, xenarthrans, monotremes and marsupials Ashwell et al, 2005;Hassiotis and Paxinos, 2004;Hassiotis et al, 2005;Sherwood et al, 2009].…”

Comparative Anatomy of Marmoset and Mouse Cortex from Genomic Expression

“…K1 and K2 project directly to the middle temporal area (MT) in the cortex (Bourne et al, 2007). Studies involving blindsight have suggested that projections from the LGN not only travel to V1, but also to the higher cortical areas including secondary (V2) and tertiary (V3) visual cortex (Schmid et al, 2010).…”