Central projections of extraocular muscle afferents in cat.

The extraocular muscles (EOMs) of adult cats were injected with wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). In addition to motoneurons, labelled cells corresponding to the sensory receptors were found in both the Gasser ganglion and the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. Central transganglionic terminals were observed in the pars interpolaris and caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, in the paratrigeminal nucleus, and in the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord. Double labelling experiments were carried out with either Fast blue or Complex gold tracer, injected in the EOM, and either Diamidino yellow or HRP tracer injected in the cervical dorsal horn. Some Gasser ganglion neurons were found to contain both tracers, providing evidence that the transganglionic terminals are localized in the cervical segments of the spinal cord.     

The cerebellar nucleo-olivary and olivo-cerebellar nuclear projections in the cat as studied with anterograde and retrograde transport in the same animal after implantation of crystalline WGA-HRP. I. The dentate nucleus

The implantation technique described by Mori et al. has been modified for the implantation of crystalline wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) complex. This method permits a detailed analysis of the afferent and efferent connections of the cerebellar nuclei without the complication of uptake and transport of the tracer into passing fibres. We have used this method for studies of the olivo-dentate and dentato-olivary projections in the cat. After implantation of WGA-HRP into the dentate nucleus in all our cases, both anterogradely labelled terminal dentato-olivary fibres and retrogradely labelled olivo-dentate neurons were found in the contralateral inferior olive. It appears from our findings that both projections are topically organized. The dorsal part of dentate nucleus is bidirectionally connected with the rostral part of the principal olive, the ventrolateral part of the dentate is connected with the intermediate portion of the principal olive, while its ventromedial part is connected with the caudal portion of the principal olive. The olivo-dentate and dentato-olivary connections appear to be largely reciprocally organized. The advantages and drawbacks encountered with implantation of crystalline WGA-HRP are discussed, and our observations are considered in relation to previous studies on the olivo-cerebellar and cerebello-olivary connections.     

Non-motoneurons in the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei projecting to the cerebellar flocculus in the cat

Summary The cerebellar projection from the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei was studied in the cat by means of retrograde axonal transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and fluorescent tracers. The feline facial nucleus was cytoarchitectonically subdivided into ventromedial, ventrolateral, lateral, dorsal, intermediate and medial divisions (see Papez 1927), and the motor trigeminal nucleus into medial, ventral, intermediate, lateral and dorsal divisions. The neurons in the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei were classified as small (ovoid to round cells with a maximum diameter of the cell body of about 20 m) or large (polygonal to round cells with maximum diameter of about 40 m). After floccular injections of the wheat germ agglutininhorseradish peroxidase complex, retrogradely labelled cells were found throughout the facial nucleus, but especially in its medial and dorsal divisions. In the motor trigeminal nucleus, labelled neurons were found only in the ventral, intermediate and lateral divisions. Cases with tracer deposition (implants or injections) in other parts of the cerebellar cortex or nuclei were all negative. All facial and motor trigeminal neurons labelled after floccular injections were smaller than the neurons labelled after injections in the facial mimic and masticatory muscles, and only single-labelled neurons were found following floccular injections of Fluoro-Gold and muscular injections of rhodamine-B-isothiocyanate in the same animals. These observations strongly suggest that the neurons in the facial and motor trigeminal nuclei which project to flocculus are of the non-motoneuron type.     

Further observations on the relationship between adenosine deaminase-containing axons and trigeminal mesencephalic neurons: an electron microscopic, immunohistochemical and anterograde tracing study

The somas of primary afferent neurons in the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve in rat have a dense investment of axons immunoreactive for the enzyme adenosine deaminase. We previously suggested that these axons may originate from adenosine deaminase-immunoreactive neurons located in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the hypothalamus [Nagy et al. (1986) Neuroscience 17, 141-156]. Anterograde tracing and immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate this possibility further. In addition, the appearance of adenosine-immunoreactive axons and the nature of their interactions with mesencephalic neurons was examined ultrastructurally. After injections of either Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin or wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase into the region of the tuberomammillary nucleus, punctate deposits of anterogradely transported tracer, detected by immunoperoxidase methods, were seen surrounding mesencephalic neurons. In sections immunostained for tracer and adenosine deaminase by double immunofluorescence, some fibres in the periaqueductal gray matter and around Mes V somas were found to be labelled for both the lectin and the enzyme. Ultrastructurally, only a single morphological class of adenosine deaminase-immunoreactive axons adjacent to, or indenting the cytoplasmic membranes of, large somas in the mesencephalic nucleus could be recognized; they were varicose and contained relatively large immunoreactive vesicles ranging in diameter from 45 to 70 nm. Occasionally, thin processes of these axons could be traced back to small adenosine deaminase-positive neuronal cell bodies located not within the tuberomammillary nucleus, but rather, within the periaqueductal gray matter. In serial ultrathin sections, membrane specializations resembling synaptic junctions were sometimes seen at points where mesencephalic somas were in contact with adenosine deaminase-immunoreactive terminals. Somas within the mesencephalic nucleus also formed such junctions with non-immunoreactive boutons which were morphologically different from, and often seen in close proximity to, those containing adenosine deaminase. These results indicate that in addition to possible afferents from the tuberomammillary nucleus, primary sensory somas within the mesencephalic nucleus are also associated with axonal processes originating from adenosine deaminase-positive neurons located within the periaqueductal gray matter. The infrequent synaptic contacts between these somas and adenosine deaminase-positive axons, despite their close anatomical arrangement, is suggestive of a diffuse endocrine or neurocrine type of axonal relationship with mesencephalic somas or with the n     

Afferents to the lateral reticular nucleus from the oculomotor region

Summary By means of retrograde transport of the wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase complex, afferent fibres to the lateral reticular nucleus from the oculomotor and accessory oculomotor nuclei were demonstrated in the cat. Small iontophoretic ejections were made into the main part of the lateral reticular nucleus from a ventral approach. Significant numbers of retrogradely labelled neurons were found bilaterally in all parts of the oculomotor nucleus. The majority was of small size and distributed along the dorsal and lateral boundaries of the nucleus. Some labelled neurons were located just outside these boundaries, in the periaqueductal gray and the adjacent mesencephalic reticular formation. Retrogradely labelled neurons were also found in the accessory oculomotor nuclei: The interstitial nucleus of Cajal featured a substantial number of labelled neurons. Some labelled neurons were consistently found also in the nucleus of the posterior commissure, but no labelled neurons were found in the nucleus of Darkschewitch. The labelled neurons in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal were of different sizes and located bilaterally, mainly in its rostral part. Caudal as well as rostral parts of the main lateral reticular nucleus appear to receive the descending afferents from the oculomotor region, but higher numbers of labelled neurons were found subsequent to ejections in the rostral part. The findings are discussed and some comments are made concerning the lateral reticular nucleus as a possible relay nucleus for oculomotor input to the cerebellum.     

Connections between the lacrimal gland and sensory trigeminal neurons: a WGA/HRP study in the cynomolgous monkey

The sensory innervation of the lacrimal gland (LG) in the cynomolgous monkey was studied using the retrograde wheat germ agglutinin/horsereadish peroxidase (WGA/HRP) tracer technique. A small solidified piece of WGA/HRP was implanted in the LG. Labelled sensory first-order neurons were found in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion (TG) and in the ipsilateral mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN). The distribution of labelled TG neurons was restricted to ophthalmic and maxillary ganglionic parts. Sensory innervation of LG by primary afferents is not only restricted to TG; an MTN involvement has also been found. This may imply that there is a central sensory role in the production and release of tears.     

The organisation of fibres within the rat basis pedunculi.

The organisation of corticofugal fibres within the basis pedunculi of rats was studied using wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase as an orthograde tracer. Following cortical injections, labelled fibres were distributed within the cerebral peduncle in an orderly way. Fibres which originate from cells in the frontal cortex maintain a position in the ventromedial part of the basis pedunculi. Fibres from the occipital and temporal cortex travel in the most dorsolateral part. Somatosensory fibres travel between these two. The extent of labelled fibres within the peduncles is correlated with the relative density of corticopontine cells arising from different areas of the cerebral cortex.     

The nuclei of origin of brainstem enkephalin and cholecystokinin projections to the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the rat

The sites of origin of brain stem enkephalin and cholecystokinin projections to the rodent spinal trigeminal nucleus were studied utilizing the combined retrograde transport-peroxidase antiperoxidase immunohistochemical technique. Several brain stem areas were found to contain enkephalin-like immunoreactive double-labeled neurons following injection of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase or horseradish peroxidase into the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The largest numbers of enkephalin double-labeled neurons were identified in the nucleus pontis oralis, nucleus raphe medianis, medial vestibular nucleus and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. Enkephalin projections to the spinal trigeminal nucleus were also found to originate from the nucleus solitarius, nucleus raphe pallidus, nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus raphe dorsalis, nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis, nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars alpha and the deep mesencephalic nucleus. In contrast to the numerous sources of enkephalin input to the spinal trigeminal nucleus, cholecystokinin projections to this region were limited to four brain stem nuclei. These included the nucleus solitarius, raphe obscurus, nucleus paragigantocellularis and the ventral reticular nucleus of the medulla. The finding that only a small number of brain stem cholecystokinin-like immunoreactive neurons project to the spinal trigeminal nucleus supports the hypothesis that most of the cholecystokinin input to the spinal trigeminal nucleus arises from primary afferent trigeminal fibers. The spinal trigeminal nucleus is known to play a role in processing sensory information and in the transmission of orofacial nociception. The present study identifies several brain stem sites which provide enkephalin and/or cholecystokinin input to the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Several of these nuclei have been implicated as components of the endogenous pain control system and the present results raise the possibility that they may modulate incoming orofacial nociception by releasing the endogenous opioid, enkephalin. Cholecystokinin, on the other hand, has been demonstrated in other studies to attenuate the action of opiates and thus may play an opposing role in the spinal trigeminal nucleus.     

The projection from the superior colliculus to the lateral reticular nucleus in the cat as studied with retrograde transport of WGA-HRP

Summary Medium-sized and large superior collicular neurons were retrogradely labelled after small ejections of the wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase complex in the lateral reticular nucleus of the feline medulla. The projection from the superior colliculus to the lateral reticular nucleus is bilateral with a contralateral predominance. It originates mainly from the intermediate, but also from the deep gray layer of the superior colliculus. Our observations provide evidence that the lateral reticular nucleus is an important target of tectal efferents. The findings are discussed in relation to the organization of other fiber connections of the superior colliculus.     

Projections of extraocular muscle primary afferent neurons to the trigeminal sensory complex in the cat as studied with the transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase

The central projections of extraocular muscle primary afferent neurons were examined in the cat by means of transganglionic axonal transport of wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Injections of the extraocular muscle with WGA-HRP resulted in transganglionic terminal labeling within the ipsilateral trigeminal sensory complex. Although the density of trigeminal projections varied among cases, labeled axons and terminals were heavily and consistently found within the rostroventral portion of the pars oralis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The caudal part of the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus occasionally contained moderate labeling but very few deposits of HRP reaction product were noted in the pars interporalis and pars caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus.     

Somatosensory systems and the milk-ejection reflex in the rat. I. Lesions of the mesencephalic lateral tegmentum disrupt the reflex and damage mesencephalic somatosensory connections

Bilateral electrolytic lesions and unilateral tracer injections were performed in lactating rats in order to study the participation of the mesencephalic lateral tegmentum in the milk-ejection reflex. The release of oxytocin was detected as a rise in intramammary pressure during each milk ejection. In animals with lesions, the lateral part of the deep grey layers of the superior colliculus, the intercollicular area and the rostromedial portion of the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus were destroyed. The mesencephalic lateral tegmentum of animals in which the milk-ejection reflex was blocked sustained a larger damage than in rats where the frequency of the milk-ejection response was only slowed down. Solutions of True Blue, horseradish peroxidase or horseradish peroxidase coupled to wheat germ agglutinin were injected in the mesencephalic lateral tegmentum of rats with and without lesions. Retrogradely labelled cells were found in several nuclei of the somatosensory pathways: the principal sensory and spinal parts of the trigeminal complex, the cuneate and gracile nuclei, the lateral cervical nucleus and the nucleus proprius of the spinal cord. Labelled cells were also found in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, the ventral parabrachial nucleus, the gigantocellular reticular nucleus, the lateral nucleus of the substantia nigra, the prerubral nucleus of the thalamus, the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus, the zona incerta and in the anterior and lateral hypothalamic areas. Labelled fibres and "terminal-like" labelling were found in the anterior pretectal area, in the thalamic parafascicular nucleus, in the posterior nucleus and the ventroposterior complex, in the zona incerta and in the fields of Forel, but none were observed in the supraoptic or paraventricular nuclei. Injections made in the area of the lateral cervical nucleus and in the cuneate and gracile nuclei labelled fibres and "terminal-like" fields in the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus, the intercollicular area, the deep grey layers of the superior colliculus and in the mesencephalic lateral tegmentum. After injections in the posterior nucleus and ventroposterior complex of the thalamus, retrogradely labelled cells were found in the lateral tegmentum, the intercollicular area and the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus. These results indicate that bilateral lesioning of the mesencephalic lateral tegmentum, which disrupts the milk-ejection response, could damage somatosensory projections originating from the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the lateral cervical nucleus, the dorsal column nuclei and the sensory and spinal trigeminal nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The cerebellar nucleo-olivary and olivo-cerebellar nuclear projections in the cat as studied with anterograde and retrograde transport in the same animal after implantation of crystalline WGA-HRP

Summary The bidirectional connections between the inferior olive and the fastigial nucleus were studied by means of anterograde and retrograde transport after implantation of crystalline wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) complex into the fastigial nucleus. The fastigio-olivary fibres terminate in the caudal half of the medial accessory olive, nucleus and the dorsal cap, and the olivofastigal projection has its origin within the same olivary regions. A topical arrangement is indicated for both pathways. The lateral part of the medial accessory olive appears to be connected with the lateral part of the fastigial nucleus, while the medial part of the medial accessory olive appears to be connected with more medial fastigial regions. Retrogradely labelled olivo-fastigial neurons were often located within the terminal field of anterogradely labelled fastigioolivary fibres, indicating that the olivo-fastigial and fastigio-olivary projections are at least in part reciprocally organized.The findings are discussed and related to previous studies on the olivo-cerebellar nuclear and cerebellar nucleo-olivary pathways. Some methodological considerations are made, and comments are made concerning the active area for uptake and transport from the stained area at the WGA-HRP injection site.     

The origin and termination of the dentatorubral fibres in the cat as studied with retrograde and anterograde transport of peroxidase labelled lectin

Summary The dentatorubral projection in the cat was studied by means of retrograde and anterograde transport after implantations of crystalline wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) in the red and dentate nuclei, respectively. Our retrograde transport findings give evidence that rubral afferents originate in the contralateral dentate nucleus, mainly dorsally in its central part. The dentate implantations (with no contamination of the adjacent interposed nuclei) show that in the cat the great majority of the dentatofugal fibres leave the ipsilateral brachium conjunctivum to decussate below the red nucleus. Scattered crossing fibres also penetrate the contralateral red nucleus at all caudorostral levels on their way to the contralateral thalamus. Terminal fibres were found only in the rostral part of the red nucleus, but no retrogradely labelled rubral cells were observed. The findings are discussed in relation to previous studies on the dentatorubral projection.     

Interactions between the basal ganglia, the pontine parabrachial region, and the trigeminal system in cat

Anatomical studies utilizing wheat germ lectin-bound horseradish peroxidase demonstrated direct connections between the pontine parabrachial region and the substantia nigra pars reticulata and to a lesser extent, the entopeduncular nucleus as well as a number of other forebrain regions including the amygdala, hypothalamus, thalamus, bed nucleus stria terminalis and substantia innominata. The pontine parabrachial region was also shown to receive direct inputs from the spinal trigeminal system and to send axons to areas surrounding trigeminal and hypoglossal motor areas. Once the anatomical connections were determined, electrophysiological studies were undertaken to investigate some of the functional aspects of these connections between the pontine parabrachial, basal ganglia and trigeminal systems. Extracellular single unit recordings were obtained from 228 cells in the dorsal pontine parabrachial region of the cat. These cells were tested for responsiveness to trigeminal sensory stimulation and activation of basal ganglia outputs (i.e. substantia nigra and entopeduncular nucleus). Twenty-two percent of pontine parabrachial cells responded to only trigeminal stimulation; 4% responded to entopeduncular nucleus only; 37% responded to substantia nigra only, and 28% responded to both substantia nigra and trigeminal stimulation. Furthermore, 43% of pontine parabrachial cells with both substantia nigra and sensory response had the sensory response altered by a preceding stimulus to the substantia nigra. Thus, the substantia nigra is shown to exert influences on both the spontaneous activities and afferent responses of pontine parabrachial neurons. The significance of these findings are discussed in relation to the importance of descending basal ganglia influences and ascending influences from the pontine parabrachial region on various sensorimotor activities.     

A comparison between wheat germ agglutinin-and choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase as anterogradely transported markers in central branches of primary sensory neurones in the rat with some observations in the cat

Horseradish peroxidase conjugates of either the lectin wheat germ agglutinin or choleragenoid, the binding subunit of cholera toxin, were injected into the L5 spinal ganglion of adult rats. This enabled comparison of these two conjugates as anterograde tracers in the primary sensory system. After a postoperative survival of 4 h to 30 days, the rats were perfused and frozen sections from spinal and medullary regions receiving primary afferents were processed for horseradish peroxidase histochemistry with tetramethylbenzidine as the chromogen. Additional observations were made in two adult cats. Following injection of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase the labelling appeared mostly as small-sized granules. The concentration of labelled primary afferents in the grey matter of the spinal cord was greatest in the marginal zone and the substantia gelatinosa and less pronounced in the deep parts of the dorsal horn. Labelling was also found in a region lateral to the central canal and in the ventral horn. Following injection of choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase the labelling appeared mainly as larger-sized granular profiles. The concentration of labelled primary afferents was greatest in the deep part of the dorsal horn and pronounced in a region lateral to the central canal and in the ventral horn. All these regions are known to receive large calibre fibres. The marginal zone and the substantia gelatinosa, known to receive fine calibre fibres, showed almost no labelling in the rat. In the cat, however, there was somewhat more labelling in the substantia gelatinosa. Labelling of neuronal cell bodies indicating transneuronal transport was seen after injection of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase. Transneuronal labelling did not seem to occur after injection of choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase. The present findings show that wheat germ agglutinin-and choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase give rise to markedly different labelling patterns. A possible explanation for the different labelling in the marginal zone and substantia gelatinosa could be that certain primary sensory neurones lack either receptors for choleragenoid on their neuronal plasma membrane or the ability to transport the choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase complex.     

Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides within the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus of the rat: an immunohistochemical analysis

In order to determine which neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are utilized by the neurons of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus and by the fibres making synaptic contact with these primary sensory cells, we have set up an immunohistochemical study using antibodies against 17 major neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the rat. Apart from some intracellular immunostaining for glutamate, no immunoreactivity to any of the tested neurotransmitters and neuropeptides could be detected inside mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve neurons. Our immunohistochemical observations indicate that mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve neurons receive input from various nerve fibres that appear to utilize serotonin, GABA, dopamine, noradrenaline (and likely glutamate) as transmitters. The innervation appeared randomly distributed over all mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve neurons. The presence of substance P, cholecystokinin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide, [Leu]enkephalin and neuropeptide Y observed in some fibres that contact with mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve neurons, presumably reflect the co-existence of these peptides with one of the neurotransmitters.     

Ascending and descending internuclear connections of the trigeminal sensory nuclei in the cat. A study with the retrograde and anterograde horseradish peroxidase technique

The distribution of cells of origin of ascending and descending internuclear connections in the trigeminal sensory nuclei was studied by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase technique in the cat. The termination of collaterals of these ascending axons was also studied by the anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Following injections of horseradish peroxidase into the ventral part of the principal sensory nucleus and the adjacent reticular formation many small neurons were labeled ipsilaterally in the whole area of the caudal portion of the nucleus interpolaris and in laminae III and IV of the nucleus caudalis. Labeled neurons were also found in laminae I and V. Injections limited to either nucleus oralis, the ventral part of the principal sensory nucleus and the medial parabrachial nucleus labeled similar types of neurons in the above regions with a topographic relationship; neurons in the dorsal part of the nuclei caudalis and interpolaris project, dorsally, to rostral portions of the trigeminal sensory nuclei while those in the ventral part of the nuclei caudalis and interpolaris project ventrally. Anterograde labeling of axons arising from the nucleus caudalis demonstrates that the axons ascend in the intranuclear bundles and the adjacent reticular formation, and give off collaterals to the nuclei interpolaris and oralis, and the ventral part of the principal sensory nucleus. Injections limited to the nucleus caudalis labeled small neurons in the rostral portion of the nucleus oralis and the caudal portion of the nucleus interpolaris. The present study suggests that these ascending and descending internuclear connections of the trigeminal sensory nuclei may modulate transmission of afferent inputs to various projection sites, such as thalamus, superior colliculus, cerebellum and spinal cord.     

Origin and distribution of cerebral vascular innervation from superior cervical, trigeminal and spinal ganglia investigated with retrograde and anterograde WGA-HRP tracing in the rat

Peripheral sources of cerebral vascular innervation have been investigated with retrograde and anterograde neuronal tracing of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) in the rat. For retrograde identification of sources of innervation, WGA-HRP was applied to the exposed basilar artery through a fine slit in the overlying meninges, and sections of brain and peripheral ganglia were reacted with tetramethylbenzidine for detection of the tracer. A high density of tetramethylbenzidine reaction product was observed around the basilar artery and in the surrounding pial tissue, but the application sites were not completely selective since some tracer always had spread into the ventral brain stem. Retrogradely labelled cell bodies were identified in the superior cervical, stellate, first and second spinal, and trigeminal ganglia, i.e. these ganglia may represent origins of basilar artery innervation. In a second series of experiments, microinjections of WGA-HRP were placed into the indicated ganglia to obtain anterograde labelling of nerve fibres on whole-mounts of the cerebral vessels. Injections into trigeminal ganglia labelled nerve fibres on the ipsilateral half of the circle of Willis, as well as the contralateral anterior cerebral artery and the rostral part of the basilar artery. The first and second spinal ganglia projected to the vertebrobasilar arteries, while the ipsilateral part of the internal carotid (outside the circle of Willis) received fibres from the second spinal ganglion. Nerve fibres originating in trigeminal and spinal ganglia were organised in bundles, and between these a sparse plexus of thin single fibres appeared. Injection of WGA-HRP into superior cervical ganglion labelled a plexus of nerve fibres on the ipsilateral circle of Willis and the (rostral) basilar artery. These experiments demonstrated the origin and distribution of sympathetic and sensory innervation to major cerebral arteries in the rat.     

The feline oculomotor nucleus: morphological subdivisions and projection to the cerebellar cortex and nuclei

Summary The cytoarchitecture of the feline oculomotor nucleus was examined in sections stained with thionin and neutral red. Five different subdivisions (caudal central, paramedian, ventral, dorsomedial and dorsolateral divisions) can be identified on each side of the midline. This observation is discussed, and our findings are compared to previous studies of the cytoarchitecture or central muscular representation of the oculomotor nucleus in which different subgroups have been distinguished. Implants or injections of the wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase complex have revealed that all five subdivisions project to different parts of the cerebellar cortex and nuclei. Retrogradely labelled cells were found in the oculomotor nucleus in 18 cases following deposition of tracer in the fastigial and interposed nuclei and certain regions of the anterior, posterior and flocculonodular lobes. The projection is bilateral and appears to have its main termination in flocculus. It originates from small neurons, especially from those located along the dorsal border of the oculomotor nucleus.     

The efferent connections of the nuclei of the descending trigeminal tract in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos L.)

The efferent and intranuclear connections of the nuclei of the descending trigeminal tract of the mallard have been studied with lesion methods, and by axonal transport techniques following injections of tritiated leucine, and of horseradish peroxidase.The large subnucleus oralis neurons, including those belonging to the nucleus of the ascending glossopharyngeal tract, have proven to be the sole origin of trigeminocerebellar connections. The cerebellar afferents are of the mossy fiber type, and terminate predominantly in lobules V, VI and VII, and possibly, lobule IV. Trigeminocerebellar projections are ipsilateral except for the vermal area.Subnucleus interpolaris is the main source of intratrigeminal fibers that terminate in subnucleus oralis and the ventral part of the main sensory nucleus. These intranuclear connections are bilateral, but the medium-celled caudal part of subnucleus interpolaris in particular contains the majority of bi- and/or contralaterally projecting neurons. Additionally, the small cells in the rostral part of subnucleus interpolaris project ipsilaterally upon the parabrachial region, and upon the lateral reticular formation.Projections upon the parabrachial region furthermore emanate bilaterally from layer I of the rostral subnucleus caudalis. A minor part of layer I neurons sends its axons contralaterally along with those of the dorsal column nuclei toward the thalamic nucleus dorsolateralis posterior. Associated with the medial lemniscus, contralateral termination is also present in the lateral part of the ventral lamella of oliva caudalis, in the marginal zone of nucleus mesencephalicus lateralis, pars dorsalis and immediately surrounding intercollicular grey and, finally, in the nucleus intercalatus thalami. Furthermore, a bilaterally descending projection from subnucleus caudalis upon layers I and II of the rostral cervical cord was observed. Close to their origin subnucleus caudalis neurons project upon the adjoining caudal part of the lateral reticular formation.