The cortical innervation pattern of rat thalamic ventrolateral (VL) fibers was investigated with the Phaseolus vulgaris-leukoagglutinin (PHA-L) anterograde labeling method. The PHA-L-labeled terminals were distributed in the sensorimotor cortex where the cerebello-cerebral (C-C) evoked responses were recognized. The labeled terminals were detected in all layers except layer VI. In the upper part of layer I, the most densely packed terminals were formed and moderately labeled terminals were seen in layers IV and V. Such a laminar distribution of PHA-L-labeled VL terminals is consistent with the profiles of the C-C responses according to laminar field potential analysis.