The formation of axonal pathways in developing cranial nerves.

The roles of a variety of molecules including cell adhesion molecules and growth factors in the development of cranial nerves have begun to be understood in detail. In the course of embryonic development, cranial nerves are differentiated in concordance with the development of the metameric facial structure called 'ectomeres'. Each ectomere parallels the segmentation of the hindbrain called the 'rhombomere', in which pairs of metameric units cooperate to generate the repeating sequence of cranial branchiomotor nerves. A number of genes, including homeobox genes, are expressed in a rhombomere-specific pattern. For the formation of the olfactory nerve, it is suggested that several carbohydrate residues play important roles in receptor-target specificity. In the optic nerve, a combination of multiple cell adhesion molecules contributes to neurite growth in a developmental stage-specific manner. The development of the trigeminal nerve is under the control of both cell adhesion molecules and several growth factors. There is evidence that some of the adhesion molecules are expressed in a modality-specific way. There are also several molecules, such as 11p15 or TAG1/SNAP which are expressed only in selected cranial nerves. The growth rate of neurites also varies according to the individual nerves. Thus each cranial nerve has its own intrinsic properties and their outgrowth is the outcome of these properties and their interactions with surrounding non-neuronal tissues.     

Development of glossopharyngeal nerve branches in the early chick embryo with special reference to morphology of the Jacobson''s anastomosis

Summary The development of glossopharyngeal nerve branches was studied by an immunohistochemical technique which stains the whole nervous system in situ. Prior to the formation of the ramus (r.) lingualis IX, pre- and post-trematic branches developed just beneath the pharyngeal ectoderm. This mode of development resembled that of the chorda tympani. The post-trematic nerve seemed to be a precursor of the r. lingual. IX. In addition to the r. pharyngeus dorsalis IX, another branch, r. pharyng. posterior IX, appeared. Both these branches formed an anastomosis with the facial and vagus beneath the dorsal aorta. The term Jacobson's anastomosis seemed to be most suitable to refer to an anastomosis made up of these dorsal pharyngeal branches of cranial nerves VII, IX and X. The primary anastomosis between the facial and the glossopharyngeal nerves in the chick is only temporarily present and is comparable to the similar anastomosis in a shark in which the sympathetic system is not present in the cranial region.     

Cranial components of startle behavior in larval and adult lampreys

Larval lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) exhibit a combination of cranial reflexes during their vibration-evoked startle response, including strong contractions of the gill chamber, velum and oral hood. These reflexes were confirmed by applying brief vibratory stimuli to an otic capsule and recording movement and electromyograms in moving preparations and efferent cranial nerve activity in curarized preparations. Vibration elicited efferent discharge in cranial nerves V, IX and X on both sides. The responses were lost following labyrinthectomy. The larval startle response results in water from the contracting gill chamber being expelled through the mouth and temporarily reduces head width. Reduced head width may facilitate the rapid withdrawal which is observed during startle behavior in burrowed larvae [S. Currie (1985) Neurosci. Abstr. 11, 268; S. Currie and R. C. Carlsen J. exp. Biol. (in Press)]. Adult lampreys (Entosphenus tridentata) attached to the wall of an aquarium by their suctorial disc, exhibited a brief but intense suction increase following a vibratory stimulus initiated by a tap to the aquarium wall. Oral suction (negative pressure) ranged from -0.6 to -10 cm H2O at rest and increased to values as high as -160 cm H2O during the vibration response. Suction intensity increased in direct proportion to the amplitude of the vibratory stimulus. Most of the suction response was lost following labyrinthectomy. Electromyographic recordings from the pharyngeal dilator m. basilaris and the lingual retractor m. cardioapicalis revealed stimulus-locked activity which preceded increased suction in adults, however, no vibration-evoked electromyogram responses were noted while recording from the gill chamber musculature or funnel. Stimulus-locked efferent activity was observed in the V-basilaris and V-apicalis branches of both trigeminal nerves following vibration of an otic capsule. Efferent vibration-evoked activity was lost in the trigeminal nerve after labyrinthectomy. No vibration-evoked activity was observed in nerves IX or X. Sudden vibration evoked dramatically different responses in larval and adult lampreys. Larvae contracted their gill chambers and expelled water from their mouths while adults exhibited a powerful suction reflex and no gill contraction. The trigeminal components of these behaviors (including velum and oral hood movement in larvae, pharynx and apicalis movement in adults) are difficult to compare. All of the larval trigeminal muscles degenerate during metamorphosis and are replaced by new adult muscles [M. W. Hardisty and C. M. Rovainen (1982) In The Biology of Lampreys, Vol. 4A. Academic Press, London].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Cell adhesion molecule cadherin‐6 function in zebrafish cranial and lateral line ganglia development

Cadherins regulate the vertebrate nervous system development. We previously showed that cadherin‐6 message (cdh6) was strongly expressed in the majority of the embryonic zebrafish cranial and lateral line ganglia during their development. Here, we present evidence that cdh6 has specific functions during cranial and lateral line ganglia and nerve development. We analyzed the consequences of cdh6 loss‐of‐function on cranial ganglion and nerve differentiation in zebrafish embryos. Embryos injected with zebrafish cdh6 specific antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs, which suppress gene expression during development; cdh6 morphant embryos) displayed a specific phenotype, including (i) altered shape and reduced development of a subset of the cranial and lateral line ganglia (e.g., the statoacoustic ganglion and vagal ganglion) and (ii) cranial nerves were abnormally formed. These data illustrate an important role for cdh6 in the formation of cranial ganglia and their nerves. Developmental Dynamics 240:1716–1726, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Occipital foramina development involves localised regulation of mesenchyme proliferation and is independent of apoptosis

Cranial foramina are holes within the skull, formed during development, allowing entry and exit of blood vessels and nerves. Once formed they must remain open, due to the vital structures they contain, i.e. optic nerves, jugular vein, carotid artery, and other cranial nerves and blood vessels. Understanding cranial foramina development is essential as cranial malformations lead to the stenosis or complete closure of these structures, resulting in blindness, deafness, facial paralysis, raised intracranial pressure and lethality. Here we focus on describing early events in the formation of the jugular, carotid and hypoglossal cranial foramina that form in the mesoderm‐derived, endochondral occipital bones at the base of the embryonic chick skull. Whole‐mount skeletal staining of skulls indicates the appearance of these foramina from HH32/D7.5 onwards. Haematoxylin & eosin staining of sections shows that the intimately associated mesenchyme, neighbouring the contents of these cranial foramina, is initially very dense and gradually becomes sparser as development proceeds. Histological examination also revealed that these foramina initially contain relatively large‐diameter nerves, which later become refined, and are closely associated with the blood vessel, which they also innervate within the confines of the foramina. Interestingly cranial foramina in the base of the skull contain blood vessels lacking smooth muscle actin, which suggests these blood vessels belong to glomus body structures within the foramina. The blood vessel shape also appears to dictate the overall shape of the resulting foramina. We initially hypothesised that cranial foramina development could involve targeted proliferation and local apoptosis to cause ‘mesenchymal clearing’ and the creation of cavities in a mechanism similar to joint cavitation. We find that this is not the case, and propose that a mechanism reliant upon local nerve/blood vessel‐derived restriction of ossification may contribute to foramina formation during cranial development.     

Neurons with access to the general circulation in the central nervous system of the rat: a retrograde tracing study with fluoro-gold.

Central nervous system neurons which have access to the general circulation were identified by injecting the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold peripherally. Fluoro-Gold does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier but is taken up by nerve terminals which project to areas supplied by fenestrated capillaries or to the periphery. Fluoro-Gold-accumulating neurons were present in the following regions or cell groups of the central nervous system: diagonal band of Broca; medial preoptic area; organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; subfornical organ; anterior periventricular area; paraventricular nucleus; arcuate nucleus; accessory magnocellular nuclei of the hypothalamus; motor neurons of cranial nerves III-VII, and IX-XII in the brainstem and spinal cord; autonomic ganglionic cells of cranial nerve III (Westphal-Edinger nucleus) in the mesencephalon and the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord; sensory ganglia of the cranial nerve V (mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus); and the C1-C2 and A2 adrenergic cell groups in the medulla. In addition, Fluoro-Gold-accumulating neurons were seen in the sensory ganglia of cranial and spinal nerves. Retrograde labeling with Fluoro-Gold can be combined with immunocytochemistry to identify the chemical messengers within Fluoro-Gold-labeled perikarya. Although a large number of neurons are labeled in the central nervous system with Fluoro-Gold when it is administered peripherally, this technique in combination with immunocytochemistry can be a powerful tool to identify selected neuronal systems in the central nervous system.     

Post-tetanic potentiation, habituation and facilitation of synaptic potentials in reticulospinal neurones of lamprey

1. Synaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of cranial nerves were recorded in giant reticulospinal neurones (Müller cells) of lamprey. A variety of patterns of stimulation was employed to explore further the functional properties of the pathways intervening between the cranial nerve fibres and Müller cells.

2. Simultaneous low intensity stimulation of two different cranial nerves produced excitatory short-latency synaptic potentials whose amplitudes summed linearly.

3. Tetanic (10/sec) stimulation of a cranial nerve depressed the evoked short-latency synaptic response, but following the tetanus the synaptic response was potentiated above control amplitude for several minutes. Tetanic stimulation of one cranial nerve had no effect upon the synaptic responses evoked by stimulation of other cranial nerves.

4. Low-frequency stimulation (1/sec to 1/20 sec) of a cranial nerve produced a progressive decrease in the amplitude of the evoked short-latency synaptic response. This phenomenon was termed synaptic habituation because its characteristics were functionally similar to behavioural habituation in animals.

5. Habituation of the synaptic response to stimulation of one cranial nerve had no effect on the synaptic responses produced by stimulation of other cranial nerves.

6. Synaptic afterdischarges lasting from several seconds to several minutes were recorded in Müller cells. They occurred both spontaneously and in response to strong electrical stimulation of cranial nerves. For several minutes following an afterdischarge the amplitudes of short-latency synaptic potentials produced by stimulation of any one of the cranial nerves were increased as much as twofold. This facilitation occurred equally well whether the short-latency synaptic responses had been habituated or not.

7. A theoretical cell-wiring diagram is proposed to account for the properties of short-latency evoked synaptic responses and synaptic afterdischarges and for the facilitation of short-latency responses by afterdischarges.

     

Stratificational relationship among the main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus and the innervation of the piriformis

In order to comprehend more completely the morphology of the nerves to the piriformis, it is necessary to obtain a detailed understanding of the relationship of the origin and the course of these nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus, with reference to the superior and inferior gluteal nerves. Twelve of seven human pelvic halves were carefully dissected in order to examine the origins of the nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus. Six of these pelvic halves were further dissected under a stereomicroscope to examine the nerves to the piriformis.

• 1 The origin of the superior gluteal nerve was more proximal and dorsal in the sacral plexus than that of the inferior gluteal nerve.
• 2 The superior gluteal nerve consisted of a thick cranial part and a thin caudal part; the former continued as the inferior branch of the nerve, and the latter, the superior branch. The cranial and caudal parts crossed before reaching the glutei medius and minimus.
• 3 The nerves to the piriformis arose from three main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus: (1) the caudalmost root of the superior gluteal nerve, (2) the caudal roots of the inferior gluteal nerve and (3) the common peroneal nerve. Considering the stratificational relationship among the main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus, the piriformis appears to be composed of parts from different muscle layers. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

     

Peripheral facial nerve communications and their clinical implications

The facial nerve (CN VII) nerve follows a torturous and complex path from its emergence at the pontomedullary junction to its various destinations. It exhibits a highly variable and complicated branching pattern and forms communications with several other cranial nerves. The facial nerve forms most of these neural intercommunications with branches of all three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), including branches of the auriculotemporal, buccal, mental, lingual, infraorbital, zygomatic, and ophthalmic nerves. Furthermore, CN VII also communicates with branches of the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), and vagus nerve (CN X) as well as with branches of the cervical plexus such as the great auricular, greater, and lesser occipital, and transverse cervical nerves. This review intends to explore the many communications between the facial nerve and other nerves along its course from the brainstem to its peripheral branches on the human face. Such connections may have importance during clinical examination and surgical procedures of the facial nerve. Knowledge of the anatomy of these neural connections may be particularly important in facial reconstructive surgery, neck dissection, and various nerve transfer procedures as well as for understanding the pathophysiology of various cranial, skull base, and neck disorders.     

Stratificational relationship among the main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus and the innervation of the piriformis.

In order to comprehend more completely the morphology of the nerves to the piriformis, it is necessary to obtain a detailed understanding of the relationship of the origin and the course of these nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus, with reference to the superior and inferior gluteal nerves. Twelve of seven human pelvic halves were carefully dissected in order to examine the origins of the nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus. Six of these pelvic halves were further dissected under a stereomicroscope to examine the nerves to the piriformis. 1. The origin of the superior gluteal nerve was more proximal and dorsal in the sacral plexus than that of the inferior gluteal nerve. 2. The superior gluteal nerve consisted of a thick cranial part and a thin caudal part; the former continued as the inferior branch of the nerve, and the latter, the superior branch. The cranial and caudal parts crossed before reaching the glutei medius and minimus. 3. The nerves to the piriformis arose from three main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus: 1) the caudalmost root of the superior gluteal nerve, 2) the caudal roots of the inferior gluteal nerve and 3) the common peroneal nerve. Considering the stratificational relationship among the main nerves from the dorsal division of the sacral plexus, the piriformis appears to be composed of parts from different muscle layers.     

Forces necessary for the disruption of the cisternal segments of cranial nerves II through XII

Manipulation of the cisternal segment of cranial nerves is often performed by the neurosurgeon. To date, attempts at quantifying the forces necessary to disrupt these nerves in situ, to our knowledge, has not been performed. The present study seeks to further elucidate the forces necessary to disrupt the cranial nerves while within the subarachnoid space. The cisternal segments of cranial nerves II through XII were exposed in six unfixed cadavers, all less than 6 hr postmortem. Forces to failure were then measured. Mean forces necessary to disrupt nerves for left sides in increasing order were found for cranial nerves IX, VII, IV, X, XII, III, VIII, XI, VI, V, and II, respectively. Mean forces for right-sided cranial nerves in increasing order were found for cranial nerves IX, VII, IV, X, XII, VIII, V, VI, XI, III, and II, respectively. Overall, cranial nerves requiring the least amount of force prior to failure included cranial nerves IV, VII, and IX. Those requiring the highest amount of force included cranial nerves II, V, VI, and XI. There was an approximately ten-fold difference between the least and greatest forces required to failure. Cranial nerve III was found to require significantly (P < 0.05) greater forces to failure for right versus left sides. To date, the neurosurgeon has had no experimentally derived data from humans for the in situ forces necessary to disrupt the cisternal segment of cranial nerves II through XII. We found that cranial nerve IX consistently took the least amount of force until its failure and cranial nerve II took the greatest. Other cranial nerves that took relatively small amount of force prior to failure included cranial nerves IV and VII. Although in vivo damage can occur prior to failure of a cranial nerve, our data may serve to provide a rough estimation for the maximal amount of tension that can be applied to a cranial nerve that is manipulated while within its cistern.     

Multiple cranial neuropathy: a common diagnostic problem

Syndrome of multiple cranial palsies is a common clinical problem routinely encountered in neurological practice. Anatomical patterns of cranial nerves involvement help in localizing the lesion. Various infections, malignant neoplasms and autoimmune vasculitis are common disorders leading to various syndromes of multiple cranial nerve palsies. A large number of diffuse neurological disorders (e.g. Gullian-Barre syndrome, myopathies) may also present with syndrome of multiple cranial nerve palsies. Despite extensive biochemical and radiological work-up the accurate diagnosis may not be established. Few such patients represent "idiopathic" variety of multiple cranial nerve involvement and show good response to corticosteroids. Widespread and sequential involvements of cranial nerves frequently suggest possibility of malignant infiltration of meninges, however, confirmation of diagnosis may not be possible before autopsy.     

Branches of the thoracic sympathetic trunk in the human fetus

Summary The segmental organization of the thoracic sympathetic trunk and all its ramifications was studied in 6 human fetuses (16–22 weeks) by means of the acetylcholinesterase in toto staining method. Each trunk was divided into 12 sympathetic segments. A segment is defined as that part of the sympathetic trunk which is connected via its rami communicates with one spinal nerve, without discriminating between grey and white rami. The diameter of the rami communicantes and their direction towards the spinal nerves are variable. The number of peripheral segmental ramifications of the trunk is much larger than assumed previously. Each thoracic sympathetic segment gives off at least 4–5 nerves. Three categories of nerves are discerned: (1) large splanchnic rootlets confined to the greater, lesser and least thoracic splanchnic nerves, (2) medium-sized splanchnic nerves directed towards thoracic viscera, some of which give off branches towards costovertebral joint plexuses and, described for the first time in man, (3) small nerves which ramify extensively and form nerve plexuses in the capsule of the costovertebral joints. The majority of the ramifications is formed by the nerves of the third category. The existence of Kuntz's nerve, connecting the 2nd intercostal nerve and 1st thoracic spinal nerve, is confirmed in four specimens. The nerve plexuses of the costovertebral joints receive a segmentally organized innervation: they receive their input from the neighbouring sympathetic segment and the one cranial to it.It is concluded that the thoracic sympathetic branches in man show a complex, segmentally organized pattern and may have a considerable component of somatosensory nerve fibers. The complex relationships must be taken into account in surgical sympathectomies.     

The peptidergic innervation of human coronary and cerebral vessels

It is now well established that in addition to nerves containing classical transmitters, the mammalian vascular system is also supplied by nerve fibre subpopulations containing several vasoactive peptides. The precise function of these peptides (neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, somatostatin and the tachykinins) is still unknown, however, their widespread occurrence in perivascular nerves indicates that they are likely candidates for a role in the neurogenic regulation of the vascular system. It has been suggested that they may exert a direct vasomotor action via their own receptors and/or modulate the release and action of other vascular transmitters. Recently, several studies have focused on the supply of nerve fibres storing neuropeptides in the coronary and cerebral vasculature of laboratory animals, however, little is known on the distribution of these putative transmitters in human coronary and cerebral vessels. In this paper, the immunocytochemical evidence that several neuropeptides are localized in subpopulations of afferent and efferent nerve fibres supplying the human coronary and cerebral vasculature is focused.     

The relationship of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery to cranial nerves VII-XII

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is the largest branch of the vertebral artery. It usually arises at the anterolateral margin of the medulla oblongata close to the lower cranial nerves. The PICA had the most complex relationship to the cranial nerves of any artery and it is frequently exposed in approaches directed to the fourth ventricle. The aim of this article is to describe the anatomical relationship of the PICA to the lower cranial nerves. In this study, 12.5% of PICAs passed between the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, 20% between the vagus and accessory nerves, and 65% through the rootlets of the accessory nerve. The lateral medullary segment of the PICA showed a lateral loop which in 20% specimens pressed against the inferior surfaces of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. The lateral medullary segment of the PICA in 20% specimens passed superior to the hypoglossal nerve, in 47.5% through the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve, and in 30% inferior to the hypoglossal nerve. The findings on the relationship of the PICA to the lower cranial nerves could be helpful in microsurgery of this region.     

Is the cranial accessory nerve really a portion of the accessory nerve? Anatomy of the cranial nerves in the jugular foramen

The accessory nerve is traditionally described as having both spinal and cranial roots, with the spinal root originating from the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord and the cranial root originating from the dorsolateral surface of the medulla oblongata. The spinal rootlets and cranial rootlets converge either before entering the jugular foramen or within it. In a recent report, this conventional view has been challenged by finding no cranial contribution to the accessory nerve. The present study was undertaken to re-examine the accessory and vagus nerves within the cranium and jugular foramen, with particular emphasis on the components of the accessory nerve. These nerves were traced from their rootlets attaching to the spinal cord and the medulla and then through the jugular foramen. The jugular foramen was exposed by removing the dural covering and surrounding bone. A surgical dissecting microscope was used to trace the roots of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), vagus nerve (CN X) and accessory nerve (CN XI) before they entered the jugular foramen and during their travel through it. The present study demonstrates that the accessory nerve exists in two forms within the cranial cavity. In the majority of cases (11 of 12), CN XI originated from the spinal cord with no distinct contribution from the medulla. However, in one of 12 cases, a small but distinct connection was seen between the vagus and the spinal accessory nerves within the jugular foramen.     

Undulating course of nerve fibres and bands of Fontana in peripheral nerves of the rat

Summary The undulating course of nerve fibres and the optical effect of that course, i.e. the bands of Fontana, were studied in the peripheral nerves of the adult rat using light microscopy. The arrangement of collagen fibres in the endoneurium of these nerves was evaluated using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. No nerve fibres undulation was noted on the intracranial sections of the cranial nerves or on the spinal roots. In their endoneurium a few, irregularly arranged collagen fibrils were found. In contrast, the nerve fibres undulation and Fontana's bands were a constant feature in the peripheral course of the nerve trunks. They were discernible in vivo and on excised unfixed as well as fixed nerves. The nerve fibres follow a sine-curve course of variable frequence and amplitude. Exposed in vivo, the nerve fibres retained their wave-like course even after removal of the epineurium and perineurium. The endoneurium of these nerves contained numerous undulating longitudinally oriented bundles of collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that the undulating course of the nerve fibres in peripheral nerves is conditional upon the quantity and arrangement of their endoneurial collagen fibrils. When the nerve was stretched in the course of movement, the undulation became straightened out until it disappeared. Conversely, nerve shortening enhanced the undulation. Thus the wave-like alignment of the nerve fibres represents a physiological reserve length for nerve stretching.