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Cited by 703Ion Channels and ReceptorsTactile and Sensory InteractionsMultisensory perception and integration

Evidence for a viscerotopic sensory representation in the cortex and thalamus in the rat

Cechetto, David F., Saper, Clifford B.·1987·Journal of Comparative Neurology
DOI 10.1002/cne.902620104
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Abstract

The functional organization of the insular cortex was studied by recording neuronal responses to visceral sensory stimuli. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was then iontophoresed at the recording sites to identify afferents from the ventrobasal thalamus to specific visceroceptive sites in the insular cortex. The relationship of the ventrobasal thalamus to the insular cortex and to brainstem relay nuclei for the ascending visceral projections was then examined by using the axonal transport of HRP, wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to HRP (WGA‐HRP), and fluorescent dyes. Of a total of 55 neurons that were tested for responses to visceral sensory stimuli, 33 units responded to atleast one visceral sensory modality: 6 received gastric mechanoreceptor input, 8 responded to taste inputs, 13 were activated by arterial chemoreceptors and/or showed respiratory related activity, and 6 responded to cardiovascular baroreceptor stimulation. On the basis of its cytoarchitecture and connections with the thalamus, the insular cortex was divided into a dorsal granular area, an intermediate dysgranular region, and a ventral agranular strip. Taste‐responsive neurons were located anteriorly, primarily in the dysgranular region, whereas unit responses to general visceral modalities were distributed dorsally and posteriorly in the granular insular cortex. Gastric mechanoreceptor‐responsive units were situated more dorsally and anteriorly in the granular insular cortex, while cardiopulmonary inputs were located more ventrally and posteriorly. Injections of HRP into the gustatory insular cortex resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons in the parvicellular part of the ventroposterior medial thalamic nucleus (VPMpc). Injections into the general visceral insular cortex retrogradely labeled neurons lateral to VPMpc in the ventroposterior lateral parvicellular thalamic nucleus (VPLpc). Injections of HRP, WGA‐HRP, and fluorescent dyes into VPMpc and VPLpc verified that their projection to the insular cortex is topographically organized. In the same experiments, retrogradely labeled neurons in the parabrachial nucleus identified the likely subnuclei within this nucleus for relay of visceral sensory information to the thalamus. Injections of WGA‐HRP into the parabrachial nucleus demonstrated that its projection to the ventrobasal thalamus is also topographically organized. These results demonstrate the relationship of general visceral and special visceral (taste) representations in the insular cortex. The ascending pathway for visceral sensory information appears to be viscerotopically organized at all levels of the neuraxis, including the insular cortex.

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  • The gustatory and visceral pathway involves GU/VISC cortical areas and VPMpc/VPLpc nuclei.

    “The gustatory and visceral pathway (involving GU/VISC cortical areas and VPMpc/VPLpc nuclei)55,108”

    From A mesoscale connectome of the mouse brain (2014) · cites this paper as [55]

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 12

  1. Burton H., 1983, Somatosensory Integration in the Thalamus, 17
  2. Cechetto D. F., 1985, Organization of visceral sensory neurons in the insular cortex in the rat, Fed. Proc., 44, 1028
  3. Cechetto D. F., 1985, Relationship of visceral afferents and limbic connections in the insular cortex in the rat, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 11, 827
  4. Dell P., 1952, Correlations entre le systeme vegetatif et le systeme de la vie de relations. Mesencephale, diencephale et cortex cerebral, J. Physiol. (Paris), 44, 471
  5. Dell P., 1951, Projections thalamiques corticales et cerebelleuses des afferences viscerales vagales, C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris), 145, 1084
  6. Emmers R., 1966, Separate cortical receiving areas for gustatory and tongue tactile afferents in the rat, Anat. Rec., 154, 460
  7. Kaada B. R., 1951, Somato‐motor, autonomic and electrocorticographic responses to electrical stimulation of ‘rhinencephalic’ and other structures in primates, cat and dog, Acta Physiol. Scand. [Suppl.], 83, 1
  8. Mraovitch S., 1982, Direct projections to autonomic centers of forebrain and brain stem from a cortical vasopressor area in rat, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 8, 77
  9. Norgren R., 1984, Handbook of Physiology—The Nervous System III, 1087
  10. Ranieri F., 1973, Splanchnic afferents arising from gastro‐intestinal and peritoneal mechanoreceptors, Exp. Brain Res., 16, 291
  11. Roberts T. S., 1963, I Insular and opercular cortex and its thalamic projection in Macaca mulatta, Schweiz. Arch. Neurol. Neurochir. Psychiatr., 92, 1
  12. Rose M., 1928, Die inselrinde des menschen und der tiere, J. Psychol. Neurol. (Leipzig), 37, 467

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Authors
Cechetto, D. F., & Saper, C. B.
Affiliations
University of Chicago (US)
ORCID
Saper, Clifford B.
Venue
Journal of Comparative Neurology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1987-08
Volume
262
Issue
1
Pages
27-45
ISSN
  • 0021-9967 (ISSN-L)
  • 1096-9861
DOI
10.1002/cne.902620104
OpenAlex
W2086146474
Semantic Scholar
582241cc5e047d61d8f2273fbee158378c2139c5
Cited by
703
References
86
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 22
FWCI
8.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 6279 d)
Locations
  • The Journal of Comparative Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • American Heart Association
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS18669, NS-22835)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
Keywords
insula, ventrobasal thalamus, taste cortex, parabrachial nucleus, gastric mechanoreceptors, arterial chemoreceptors, baroreceptors, topographic projection, retrograde tracing, axonal transport
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Afferent Pathways, Animals, Brain Mapping, Brain Stem, Cerebral Cortex, Fluorescent Dyes, Horseradish Peroxidase, Male, Neurons, Afferent, Sensory Receptor Cells, Respiration, Thalamic Nuclei, Viscera, Wheat Germ Agglutinins, Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate, Rats

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