Pretectal projections to the oculomotor cerebellum in hummingbirds (Calypte anna), zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), and pigeons (Columba livia)

Gaede, Andrea H.; Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, Cristián; Armstrong, Melissa S.; Altshuler, Douglas L.; Wylie, Douglas R.

doi:10.1002/cne.24697

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(102 reference statements)

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“…As expected from previous work (Gaede et al, 2019;Pakan & Wylie, 2006), injections in folia VI-VIII resulted in retrogradely labeled cells in the nucleus LM (Figure 9). As anticipated, projections arose mostly from medial LM (LMm) rather than the lateral subdivision of LM (LMl).…”

Section: Lentiformis Mesencephalisupporting

confidence: 90%

Pretecto‐ and ponto‐cerebellar pathways to the pigeon oculomotor cerebellum follow a zonal organization

Gutiérrez-Ibáñez

Pilon

Wylie

2021

J of Comparative Neurology

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Both birds and mammals have relatively large forebrains and cerebella. In mammals, there are extensive sensory-motor projections to the cerebellum through the pontine nuclei originating from several parts of the cerebral cortex. Similar forebrainto-cerebellum pathways exist in birds, but the organization of this circuitry has not been studied extensively. Birds have two nuclei at the base of the brainstem that are thought to be homologous to the pontine nuclei of mammals, the medial and lateral pontine nuclei (PM, PL). Additionally, birds are unique in that they have a pretectal nucleus called the medial spiriform nucleus (SpM) that, like the pontine nuclei, also receives projections from the forebrain and projects to the oculomotor cerebellum (OCb; folia VI to VIII). The OCb also receives input from the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (LM), which analyzes visual optic flow information resulting from self-movement. In this study, we used single or double injections of fluorescent tracers to study the organization of these inputs from PM, PL, SpM and LM to the OCb in pigeons. We found that these inputs follow a zonal organization. The most medial zone in the OCb, zone A1, receives bilateral inputs from the lateral SpM, PL and LM.Zones A2 and C receive a bilateral projection from the medial SpM, and a mostly contralateral projection from PM and LM. We discuss how the pathway to zone A1 processes mainly visuo-motor information to spinal premotor areas, whereas the pathways to zone A2/C processes somato-motor and visuo-motor information and may have a feedback/modulatory role.

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Section: Lentiformis Mesencephalisupporting

confidence: 90%

Pretecto‐ and ponto‐cerebellar pathways to the pigeon oculomotor cerebellum follow a zonal organization

Gutiérrez-Ibáñez

Pilon

Wylie

2021

J of Comparative Neurology

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“…Differences also exist related to connectivity. In pigeons, projections from LM to the oculomotor cerebellum arise from the medial LM, whereas in zebra finches (and hummingbirds), these arise from structures just medial to LM, the nucleus laminaris precommissuralis (LPC) and nucleus principalis precommissuralis (PPC) (Gaede et al., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topography of optic flow processing in olivo‐cerebellar pathways in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

Wylie

Gaede

Gutiérrez-Ibáñez

et al. 2023

J of Comparative Neurology

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In birds, the nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) and the nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (LM) are brainstem nuclei involved in the analysis of optic flow. A major projection site of both nBOR and LM is the medial column of the inferior olive (IO), which provides climbing fibers to the vestibulocerebellum. This pathway has been well documented in pigeons, but not other birds. Recent works have highlighted that zebra finches show specializations with respect to optic flow processing, which may be reflected in the organization of optic flow pathways to the IO. In this study, we characterized the organization of these pathways in zebra finches. We found that the medial column consists of at least eight subnuclei (i-viii) visible in Nissl-stained tissue.Using anterograde traces we found that the projections from LM and nBOR to the IO were bilateral, but heavier to the ipsilateral side, and showed a complementary pattern: LM projected to subnucleus i, whereas nBOR projected to subnuclei ii and v. Using retrograde tracers, we found that these subnuclei (i, ii and v) projected to the vestibulocerebellum (folia IXcd and X), whereas the other subnuclei projected to IXab and the lateral margin of VII and VIII. The nBOR also projected ipsilaterally to the caudo-medial dorsal lamella of the IO, which the retrograde experiments showed as projecting to the medial margin of VII and VIII. We compare these results with previous studies in other avian species. K E Y W O R D Saccessory optic system, cerebellum, inferior olive, lentiformis mesencephali, nucleus of the basal optic root, pretectum Abbreviations: CbL, lateral cerebellar nucleus; CtG, central gray; D, nucleus of Darkschewitsch; DGCs, displaced ganglion cells; dl, dorsal lamella (of inferior olive); gl, granule cell layer (of the cerebellum); Glv, ventral leaflet of the lateral geniculate nucleus; GT, tectal gray; IC, interstitial nucleus of Cajal; ic, intercalated subnucleus (of the medial cerebellar nucleus); III, third cranial nerve; im, intermediate subnucleus (of the medial cerebellar nucleus); Imc, nucleus isthmi, pars magnocellularis; in, internal subnucleus (of the medial cerebellar nucleus); IO, inferior olive; LM(m/l), nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (medial/lateral subnuclei); LPC, nucleus laminaris precommisuralis; mc/MC, medial column (of inferior olive); ml, molecular layer (of the cerebellum); nBOR, nucleus of the basal optic root; nIII, oculomotor complex; nIV, trochlear nucleus; PCl, Purkinje cell layer (of the cerebellum);

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“…This is reminiscent of birds, where several pretectal nuclei project to the cerebellum [Clarke, 1977;Gaede et al, 2019]. In birds, in addition to LM, at least three other nuclei, the laminar precommisural, the principal precommisural, and area pretectalis, project to the cerebellum [Clarke, 1977;Gaede et al, 2019]. Establishing exactly which of these pretectal nuclei contained the retrograde labeled cells found in the present study is difficult because clear borders are not apparent with Nissl staining.…”

Section: Prosencephalonmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…6). This is reminiscent of birds, where several pretectal nuclei project to the cerebellum [Clarke, 1977;Gaede et al, 2019]. In birds, in addition to LM, at least three other nuclei, the laminar precommisural, the principal precommisural, and area pretectalis, project to the cerebellum [Clarke, 1977;Gaede et al, 2019].…”

Section: Prosencephalonmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cerebellar Inputs in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

et al. 2022

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Crocodilians (alligators, crocodiles and gharials) are the closet living relatives to birds, and as such, represent a key clade to understand the evolution of the avian brain. However, many aspects of crocodilians neurobiology remain unknown. In this paper we address an important knowledge gap as there are no published studies of cerebellar connections in any crocodilian species. We used injections of retrograde tracers into the cerebellum of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) to describe for the first time the origin of climbing and mossy fiber inputs. We found that inputs to the cerebellum in the American alligator are similar to those of other non-avian reptiles and birds. Retrograde labeled cells were found in the spinal cord, inferior olive, reticular formation, vestibular and cerebellar nuclei, as well as in nucleus ruber and surrounding tegmentum. Additionally, we found no retrogradely labeled cells in the anterior rhombencephalon which suggest that, like other non-avian reptiles, crocodilians may lack pontine nuclei. Similar to birds and other non-avian reptiles, we found inputs to the cerebellum from the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali. Additionally, we found retrogradely labelled neurons in two nuclei in the pretectum: the nucleus circularis and the interstitial nucleus of the posterior commissure. These pretectal projections have not been described in any other non-avian reptile to date but they do resemble projections from the nucleus spiriformis medialis of birds. Our results show that many inputs to the cerebellum are highly conserved among sauropsids and that extensive pretectal inputs to the cerebellum are not exclusive to the avian brain. Finally, we suggest that the pontine nuclei of birds are an evolutionary novelty that may have evolved after the last common ancestor between birds and crocodilians, and may represent an intriguing case of convergent evolution with mammals.

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Pretectal projections to the oculomotor cerebellum in hummingbirds (Calypte anna), zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), and pigeons (Columba livia)

Cited by 10 publications

References 58 publications

Pretecto‐ and ponto‐cerebellar pathways to the pigeon oculomotor cerebellum follow a zonal organization

Pretecto‐ and ponto‐cerebellar pathways to the pigeon oculomotor cerebellum follow a zonal organization

Topography of optic flow processing in olivo‐cerebellar pathways in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

Cerebellar Inputs in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

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