Employing the fluorescent retrograde double labeling technique, the present study demonstrated that in the rat single neurons in the lateroposterior thalamic nucleus (LP) project to both the visual cortex and striatum, and that single neurons in the substantia nigra pars lateralis project to both the LP and striatum, or to both the superior colliculus and striatum. These results provide morphological evidence for the functional correlation between the visual system and basal ganglia.