Article Figures & Data
- Figure 1.
Illustration of consecutive stages of image processing. A, Example of nuclear outlines traced from a 50-µm-thick section. B, Example of a group of aligned outlines. C, A group of outlines with thickness added. D, Medial view of 3D-reconstructed volume of color-coded structures. Positions of coordinate planes are indicated with the two perpendiculars: horizontal axis indicates position of the intercommissural plane, i.e., zero horizontal plane, vertical axis shows the position of the zero frontal plane.
- Figure 2.
Color code and nuclear abbreviations.
- Figure 3.
Examples of sagittal histologic images and color-coded maps from 3.25 to 6 mm from the midline. To illustrate the medio-lateral extent of the three motor nuclei this and the following four figures (Figs. 4–7) show selected images of the series of sagittal computerprocessed Nissl-stained sections (left column) and corresponding sagittal cuts of reconstructed 3D volume with color-coded nuclei (right column) at different distances from the midline. The distances of each pair of images from the midline are indicated in the middle. VAn, dark purple; VAp, dark blue; VL, bright yellow; al, ansa lenticularis; fx, fornix; mt, mammillothalamic tract. For labeling and abbreviations of all other structures, see Figure 2.
- Figure 4.
Examples of sagittal histologic images and color-coded maps from 7.25 to 9 mm from the midline. Continuation of the series shown in Figure 3. The black dashed contour in VL indicates the approximate dorsal boundary of VLv. Groups of cells in adjacent motor nuclei reach significantly into each other territories making the boundary between them very uneven. Despite the low contrast this can be noticed in histologic images in the left column. These zigzags are smoothed in 3D volume due to technical limitations. Zi, zona incerta; lf, lenticular fasciculus, the rest of the labeling as in Figure 3.
- Figure 5.
Examples of sagittal histologic images and color-coded maps from 10.75 to 13.5 mm from the midline. Continuation of the series shown in Figures 3 and 4. Labeling as in Figures 3 and 4.
- Figure 6.
Examples of sagittal histologic images and color-coded maps from 14.5 to 16.75 mm from the midline. Continuation of the series shown in Figures 3–5. Labeling as in Figures 3–5.
- Figure 7.
Sagittal histologic images and color-coded map at 18.5 mm from the midline. The most lateral extension of VL. Labeling as in Figures 3–6.
- Figure 8.
Examples of coronal maps derived from the reconstructed 3D volume. The cut at zero coronal plane (0 mm) is shown in the second image from the right in the second row. Cuts posterior to the zero coronal plane are marked with negative (-) numbers. Vertical axis indicates the midsagittal plane, horizontal axis indicates the zero horizontal plane. Because of low magnification of the images in this plate, pallidothalamic fiber bundles are marked as follows: lenticular fasciculus, one white asterisk; ansa lenticularis, two white asterisks; mt, mammillothalamic tract, other labeling as in Figures 3–7.
- Figure 9.
Examples of horizontal maps from the reconstructed 3D volume. All levels shown are above the zero horizontal plane as the motor nuclei do not extend below it. The cut at the zero level, i.e., at the AC-PC plane, is in the bottom of the right column (0.0 mm). Horizontal axis indicates the position of the midline. Vertical axis indicates position of the zero coronal plane.
- Figure 10.
Illustration of overlap between coregistered atlas and MNI 2009b NLIN ASYM stereotactic space (T1 weighted template; Fonov et al., 2009). A, Axial (left), sagittal (mid), and coronal (right) planes (positions of each plane in whole brain sections are outlined in corresponding insets). Basal ganglia (VAn, VAp) and cerebellar (VL) domains of the human motor thalamus are labeled, for other structures refer to color code in Figure 2 (please note that colors are less intense in this figure due to overlay on template). Coordinates marked on the panels are the ones used in MNI space, which are different from those used in the 3D atlas described here due to a difference in position of zero coronal plane. B, Dorsal (left) and oblique (right) views of the basal ganglia and cerebellar domains as reconstructed in 3D. Outer thalamic outlines of the atlas are drawn with dashed white line. Arrows indicate orientation in the brain (A, anterior; L, lateral; D, dorsal).
- Table 1.
Volumes of human motor-related thalamic nuclei and sources of their afferent inputs
Nuclei Volume in mm3 VAn 68.38 VAp 457.15 VL (VLd andVLv) 843.59 Substantia nigra 344.65 Medial globus pallidus 495. 81 Deep cerebellar nuclei Not available - Table 2.
Comparison of classifications of human motor-related thalamic nuclei of this study and that of Hassler (1959)
Subcortical afferent sources Nuclear subdivisions of this study Corresponding nuclear subdivisions of Hassler Substantia nigra pars reticularis VAn Lpo.mc and parts of Lpo and Doi Medial globus pallidus VAp Voa, marginally Vop, parts of Lpo, Doi, Zo, Doe, and Voi Deep cerebellar nuclei VL (VLd and VLv) Vim, bulk of Vop, and parts of Voi, Vom, Dim, Doi, Zim, Zo, and Zc
- Movie 1.
3D relationships of motor thalamic nuclei and some other structures within MNI space. VL appears first followed by VAn and VAp. In the next sequence, all three appear together and then some other structures of particular relevance to deep brain stimulation such as medial and lateral globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus are added. For unlabeled nuclei, refer to color-code in Figure 2.
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