Organization of the cortico-caudate projections. A horseradish peroxidase study in the cat.

The organization of the cortico-caudate projection neurones in the cerebral cortex was demonstrated by utilizing retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cat. Following injection of HRP into the head portion of the caudate nucleus, cortical labelled cells with HRP could be divided into two groups, consisting of smaller and larger pyramidal neurones. The location of the smaller neurones in the cortex was mainly in layer III, while that of the larger neurones was exclusively in layer V. In the cerebral cortex ipsilateral to the HRP-injected side, labelled cells belonging to the smaller group were distributed mostly in area 6 and occasionally in areas 4 and 5. Labelled cells belonging to the larger group were located exclusively in area 6. In the contralateral cortex, labelled cells were all smaller in size and distributed only in area 6. Referring to recent physiological as well as anatomical data, the smaller, labelled pyramidal cells were considered to be the proper, direct cortico-caudate neurones. The larger, labelled pyramidal cells were regarded as cortico-caudate projection neurones also sending axons to the lower brainstem and/or the spinal cord. The results of the present study indicate the existence of a close relationship between area 6 (premotor area) of the cerebral cortex and the caudate nucleus.