Regional differences of callosal connections in the granular zones of the primary somatosensory cortex in rats

Abstract The primary somatosensory cortex (SI) in rats is cytoarchitectonically divided into three zones: the granular, peri-, and dysgranular zones. To examine callosal connections in the granular zone that bears representation of the body somatosensory map, the distribution of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase labels was explored in the right SI after single or multiple injections into the granular zone of the left SI. After injections in the upper and lower jaw regions, many labeled cell bodies and dense terminal labeling were found in the regions homotopical to the injection sites. Both kinds of labels were densely seen in layers II–III and V, less densely in layer VI. Densely labeled terminals were also observed in layer I. In layer IV, many terminals and a few cell bodies were labeled in the septa, while labeling inside the barrels was sparse or absent. After injections in other regions, i.e., those representing the facial whiskers, fore- and hindlimbs, or trunk in the granular zone, labeled callosal cell bodies and terminals were sparse or absent, except in the septa of the posteromedial barrel subfield representing the facial whiskers. The results clearly show that the density of callosal connections in the granular zone differs in different subfields, and that at least the jaw regions in the granular zones of both hemispheres are directly interconnected, in contrast to the previous assumption that only the dysgranular zone mediates information transmission between the granular zones of both sides.