Corticoclaustral connections in the cat.

Abstract

The claustrum is a sheet-like layer of gray matter situated between the external and extreme capsules of the mammalian brain. This structure was first described by the French physician and anatomist Vicq d'Azyr in 1786. The claustrum's phylogeny, ontogeny and functional characteristics have long been the subject of debate and considerable investigative efforts. However, despite such efforts (or perhaps as a result thereof), significant disparities and discrepancies remain, most notably in the context of the claustrum's afferent and efferent connections. For the purpose of this study, we sought to focus our efforts on fronto-claustral and occipito-claustral connections. Twelve healthy, adult male cats, each weighing ~ 3.5 kg, were studied, seven of which underwent electrolytic lesions of the frontal cortex (A3, A4, and a portion of A6), and five of the occipital cortex (A17, A18, A21). From three to six days after lesioning, subjects were euthanized in accordance with ethical norms. After the brains were removed and blocked, samples of the claustrum were taken and prepared for electron microscopy. Three to six days after lesions of the frontal cortex, we observed an abundance of degenerative boutons in the dorsal claustrum. The vast majority of boutons exhibited the characteristic signs of dark degeneration, whereas only 10% appeared to have undergone light degeneration. Similar results were seen in the dorsal claustrum over the same period of time following lesions of the visual cortex. These results suggest that the dorsal claustrum receives at least two types of connections - separately and concurrently - from the frontal and occipital cortices.