Reduced density of geniculocortical terminals in foveal layer 4A in the macaque primary visual cortex: relationship to S-cone density

Brain Struct Funct. 2015 Sep;220(5):2783-96. doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0826-5. Epub 2014 Jul 10.

Abstract

The S-cone system is closely linked to the perception of blue/yellow. The trichromatic system of Old-World monkeys and humans has relatively few S-cones in the fovea. In this study, we investigated the distribution of putative S-cone afferents in macaques primary visual cortex (V1) which form a characteristic honeycomb arrangement in layer 4A. It was hypothesized that if there were a low number of S-cone opponent projecting neurons in central vision then this would be seen as a reduction in afferents in foveal layer 4A. Recent studies have shown that the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGlut2) is a marker for thalamic afferent terminals in cortex. The distribution of VGlut2-immunoreactive (-ir) terminals was studied in the foveal and perifoveal representation of V1. It was found that there was a substantial reduction in the terminal density in the foveal representation: the density was 5-6 times lower in the foveal V1 than in regions representing perifoveal eccentricities of 1°-2° and beyond. These findings may provide the cortical substrate of foveal tritanopia, the reduced blue perceptual ability for small fields in the center of gaze.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Macaca
  • Macaca fascicularis / metabolism*
  • Nerve Net / pathology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure*
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • Visual Cortex / metabolism*
  • Visual Cortex / pathology*

Substances

  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2