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.     

The cells of origin of the trigeminothalamic,trigeminospinal and trigeminocerebellar projections in the cat

Using the retrograde horseradish peroxidase technique, we have examined the distribution of labeled thalamic-, spinal- and cerebellar-projecting neurons in the trigeminal sensory nuclei of the cat.Injections into the nucleus ventralis posterior of the thalamus resulted in labeling of neurons in lamina I (subnucleus zonalis), the deeper part of lamina IV (the subhucleus magnocellularis) of the nucleus caudalis and in lamina V (the lateral extension of the nucleus medullae oblongatae centralis) on the contralateral side. A very large number of labeled small neurons were observed mainly in the caudal part of the nucleus interpolaris and in the ventral division of the principal sensory nucleus on the contralateral side and in the dorsal division of the principal sensory nucleus on the ipsilateral side.Injections into the known projection areas of the cerebellar cortex labeled mainly ipsilaterally the trigeminocerebellar neurons in a restricted ventrolateral area of lamina IV of the nucleus caudalis at its rostral level and in lamina V. Many labeled neurons were also observed in the nucleus interpolaris. Although the distribution overlapped with that of the trigeminothalamic neurons, the greatest majority were concentrated in its rostral part where the trigeminothalamic neurons were very small in number. In addition, labeled neurons were observed in the rostral part of the nucleus oralis and the ventralmost part of the ventral division of the principal sensory nucleus. No labeled neurons were observed in the dorsal division of the principal sensory nucleus and the mesencephalic nucleus.The trigeminospinal neurons were labeled mainly ipsilaterally following injections into the upper cervical cord. They were located in laminae I and III, the deeper part of lamina IV of the nucleus caudalis and in lamina V. Only scattered labeled neurons were found in the nucleus interpolaris. The number of labeled neurons increased in the nucleus oralis at the level of the superior olive. They tended to be distributed around or dorsal to the groups of the trigeminothalamic neurons at the caudal part of the principal sensory nucleus. No neurons of the principal sensory nucleus appeared to project to the spinal cord. Based on the large size and location, the trigeminospinal neurons could be differentiated from the other projection neurons in the nucleus oralis.The present study demonstrates that the trigeminal sensory nuclei are composed of groups of neurons with different projections, since the main aggregations are localized at different levels. However, it should be examined whether the neuronal groups, which are labeled from the different structures in similar locations, are composed of individual neurons projecting to more than one of these structures.     

A Golgi Type II neuron in trigeminal nucleus oralis: a Golgi study in the rat

This Golgi study identifies a class of small neurons in trigeminal nucleus oralis (Vo) that satisfies all the morphological criteria for a Golgi Type II neuron. The cylindrical-shaped dendritic arbor extends up to 500 micron in the rostrocaudal axis and is confined to Vo. The unmyelinated axon generates a highly branched collateral axonal plexus within or near the dendritic tree and it does not project out of Vo. This Golgi Type II neuron is considered to be an inhibitory interneuron and probably participates in a variety of inhibitory phenomena known to occur in Vo.     

大鼠三叉神经脊束核吻侧亚核背内侧部及邻接的外侧网状结构的传出投射——WGA-HRP顺行追踪研究(中脑核—丘脑投射通路研究之二)

在已探明三叉神经中脑核神经元中枢突向三叉神经脊束核吻侧亚核的背内侧部(Vodm)及邻接的网状结构(LRF)投射的基础上,本文作者用WGA—HRP顺行标记法追踪了Vodm和其邻接的LRF传出投射的终止部位,以期探索Vme—丘脑通路中第三级神经元的所在。结果发现Vodm及邻接的LRF除投射到一些脑神经运动核、臂旁核、下橄榄主核腹肢内端外,还发现了前人未曾注意到的沿三叉神经感觉主核内缘存在且向腹侧伸延的一个带状区内有浓密的标记终末终止。此标记终末带区在上橄榄核背侧,三叉神经运动核腹侧以及三叉神经感觉主核的背内侧部等处增大,而上橄榄核背侧及三叉运动核腹侧的终末区以往并无人注意到在此有与之相应的核团。     

Organization of projections from the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus to the hypoglossal nucleus in the rat: an experimental light and electron microscopic study with axonal tracer techniques

Summary The organization of projections from the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus (PSN) to the hypoglossal nucleus (XII) in the rat was investigated at the light and electron microscopic level with retrograde and anterograde axonal tracer techniques. Microiontophoretic injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into XII resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons confined to the dorsal one-third of the PSN. Labeled neurons were found bilaterally, although a clear preponderance for ipsilateral distribution was evident. Most labeled neurons were found in the medial one-third and caudal two-thirds of the PSN. Labeled neurons were large (30–50 m), round-to-pear shaped multipolar cells with dendrites oriented primarily in the mediolateral direction. At the electron microscopic level, HRP reaction product was found throughout the cytoplasm of soma and processes of PSN projection neurons. The ultrastructural characteristics of these cells included a round, centrally placed nucleus and invaginated nuclear envelope, sparse Nissl bodies, numerous free ribosomes, mitochondria, lysosomes and Golgi complexes. Three to four main stem dendrites gradually tapered from the cell body and numerous synaptic terminals impinged upon soma and dendrites of labeled PSN neurons. Microiontophoretic injection of tritiated amino acids or HRP into the dorsal one-third of the PSN resulted in moderately dense terminal labeling in XII bilaterally, although mainly ipsilaterally. Terminal labeling was found diffusely throughout all regions of XII. Fibers descended the brainstem in the dorsolateral reticular formation and entered XII ventrolaterally. At the electron microscopic level, boutons containing HRP reaction product were found to synapse on dendritic processes in XII. Labeled boutons were characterized by clear, spherical vesicles and an asymmetrical postsynaptic density. The significance of these results are discussed in relation to oro-lingual motor behavior.Abbreviations used in Figures Am Nucleus ambiguus - Ax Axon - Den Dendrite - dlRF dorsolateral reticular formation - G Golgi apparatus - IO Inferior olive - ITR Intertrigeminal region - IV Fourth ventricle - Lf Lipofuscin - LRN Lateral reticular nucleus - mRF Medial reticular formation - mPB Medial parabrachial nucleus - MV Motor trigeminal nucleus - MVN Medial vestibular nucleus - Nu Nucleus - PSN Principal sensory trigeminal nucleus - Py Pyramid - R Ribosomes - RF Reticular formation - SC Subnucleus caudalis - SI Subnucleus interpolaris - SO Subnucleus oralis - SOL Solitary tract nucleus - STR Supratrigeminal region - T Terminal - TB Trapezoid body - VII Facial nucleus - VIIn Facial nerve - X Dorsal vagal nucleus - XII Hypoglossal nucleus     

猫红核小细胞部向三叉神经感觉核簇的投射——WGA-HRP顺行追踪法研究

将WGA—HRP溶液注入于猫红核吻侧段,顺行追踪了红核向三叉神经感觉核簇投射的纤维行径及终未分布,发现红核有下行纤维投射于对侧三叉神经感觉核簇各亚核。结合作者等既往的研究肯定此投射的起源为对侧红核吻侧2/3段小细胞部背外侧的中、小型细胞群。投射终末以尾侧亚核的深层相当于脊髓背角Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ层的地区最为密集,特别是V层最为集中。鉴于此区又是三叉神经初级传入纤维的投射区,还有三叉神经二级感觉(特别是痛觉)神经元胞体及树突的存在,因而作者等认为此区应属于尾侧亚核的一个部分,而不应将之归属于网状结构。红核向此区的投射可能和三叉初级传入纤维之间或两者与二级感觉神经元之间有汇聚的关系。这种汇聚可能对口面部的感觉特别是痛觉的传递产生某种调节作用。     

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.     

GABA样神经元和GABA能三叉一丘脑投射神经元在三叉神经感觉核簇的分布及形态学特征

用直接抗GABA免疫组化方法和与HRP逆行追踪相结合的双标记法在光镜下观察了GABA样神经元和GABA能丘脑投射神经元在大鼠三又神经惑觉核簇的分布和形态特征。结果显示:GABA样神经元广泛存在于三叉神经感觉核簇的各亚核中,但在每一亚核和尾侧亚核的各层,其分布状况和细胞形态特征各异。在尾侧亚孩,GABA样神经元的分布密度为Ⅰ、Ⅱ层>Ⅳ、Ⅴ层>Ⅲ层;在极间亚核,GABA样细胞分为背、腹二群,以腹侧群为主;在吻侧亚核,分为背内侧群、内侧带群和腹外侧群三群;在感觉主核分为背内侧群和腹外侧群;在三叉上核分为吻内侧群和尾外侧群。同样,本文首次发现,GABA能丘脑投射神经元也广泛存在于三叉神经感觉核簇各核中,而且在各亚核及各层中其分布密度及细胞形态也不相同。在尾侧亚核,双标细胞占38.6%,主要分布在Ⅰ、Ⅱ层,具有较长附突;在极间亚核,双标细胞占40%,主要分布在腹侧群;在吻侧亚核中仅在腹侧群有少量小的双标细胞;在感觉主核,双标细胞占20-30%,主要集中在背内侧群,腹外侧群仅有少量;在三叉上核,双标细胞仅出现在尾外侧群。结果提示:GABA对三叉神经感觉核簇中的各种深浅感觉功能的传导和整合可产生广泛的抑制影响,但其影响形式、程度和机制可能各不相同。     

Direct projection from the dorsal hypothalamic area to the nucleus raphe pallidus: a study using anterograde transport with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin in the rat

Summary A hypothalamic projection to the nucleus raphe pallidus of the medulla was examined using the anterograde tracing technique based on Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) in the rat. After the iontophoretic application of PHA-L to the dorsal hypothalamic area, labeled fibers that finally ended in the nucleus raphe pallidus were observed descending through the most medial part of the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis to reach the medial aspect of the pyramid. Many varicose fibers forming a loose plexus were observed in the nucleus raphe pallidus, especially ventrally. The ventral surface of the pyramid and the most ventral region of the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGCL) contained labeled varicose fibers. At the electron microscopic level, the labeled profiles in the nucleus raphe pallidus were small-sized unmyelinated axons and axon terminals. Labeled axon terminals containing spherical synaptic vesicles formed synapses on spine-like protrusions or small-sized dendritic shafts. These results strongly indicate that neurons in the dorsal hypothalamic area have a direct connection with neurons in the nucleus raphe pallidus and the ventral part of the PGCL. The possible involvement of this pathway in cardiovascular regulation was discussed.     

大鼠三叉神经中脑核神经元细胞内HRP标记的研究

本文用电生理方法对大鼠三叉神经中脑核进行定位后将微电极插入该核的神经元,进行细胞内HRP注射。对53个标记神经元的形态、突起的行径、投射范围及其终末分支的特点和终止模式进行了研究。结果表明:(1)三叉神经中脑核神经元有单极、假单极、双极和多极神经元等四种类型,这些神经元有大有小,形状也多样;(2)单极和假单极神经元的突起行程长,投射广泛,侧支极其丰富。它们投射到中间神经元核团(三叉上核、三叉间核,桥延网状结构小细胞网状核等),运动核团(三叉运动核、外展神经副核、面神经副核等)和感觉核团(感觉主核背肉侧部、三叉脊束核吻侧亚核背内侧部等)。此外,还有个别突起投射到动眼神经核、滑车神经核和孤束中。(3)本文首次注意到,这些神经元在性质不同的核群其终末特点和终止模式不同,而在同类核群的各核中其终末特点和终止模式相似。(4)本文还观察到中脑核神经元的周围轴突发出侧支分布到三叉运动核。(5)本文首次提供了三叉神经中脑核神经元向感觉主核背内侧部、外展神经副核和面神经副核投射的资料。此外,本文还就三叉神经本体觉脑内传递通路进行了讨论。     

Projections from the paratrigeminal nucleus and the medullary and spinal dorsal horns to the peribrachial area in the cat

The projections from the medullary and spinal dorsal horns to the dorsolateral pons were investigated in the cat utilizing both the retrograde and anterograde transport of a wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase complex and the retrograde transport of the fluorescent dyes Fast Blue and Nuclear Yellow. After injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase into the area surrounding the brachium conjunctivum, numerous neurons were labeled ipsilaterally near levels of the obex in the paratrigeminal nucleus. Such neurons were located in connected pockets of neuropil located within the spinal trigeminal tract and along its medial edge. Most of the neurons labeled in the dorsal horns after such injections were found in lamina I. Those found in the medullary dorsal horn were mostly ipsilateral to the injection while those in the spinal dorsal horn were found bilaterally. Some labeled neurons were also found in lamina V of both the medullary and spinal dorsal horns bilaterally. When the injection was centered in either the medial parabrachial nucleus or the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, a greater number of neurons were labeled ipsilaterally in lamina V of the medullary dorsal horn. Since neurons in lamina I of the medullary dorsal horn also project to the medial thalamus, fluorescent dyes were used to determine if the same neuron might project to both targets. Fast Blue was first injected into either the peribrachial area or the medial thalamus. After an appropriate period, Nuclear Yellow was injected into that target not injected first with Fast Blue. The injection of Nuclear Yellow was always placed on the side of the brain opposite to the first injection. Both dyes were transported retrogradely and were found in neurons located in lamina I of the medullary dorsal horn. However, no double-labeled neurons were seen. In general those labeled after injections of the medial thalamus were more superficial than those labeled after injections of the dorsolateral pons. The anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase was used to determine the termination of the projections from neurons in the medulary dorsal horn and the cervical spinal cord to the peribrachial area. After injections into these areas a moderate to sparse labeling of the lateral parabrachial nucleus and the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus was seen. It was mostly ipsilateral in cases with injections of the medullary dorsal horn but was bilateral following injections into the cervical enlargement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Projections from the reticular formation of the medulla, the spinal trigeminal and lateral reticular nuclei to the inferior olive

Injections of tritiated L-leucine were placed in the reticular formation of the medulla, the spinal trigeminal and lateral reticular nuclei of cats and silver grain accumulations in the inferior olivary nucleus were demonstrated by autoradiography. Cells of the reticular formation located at the junction of nuclei reticularis magnocellularis and reticularis parvocellularis in the rostral medulla and within nucleus reticularis ventralis in the caudal medulla contribute four distinct projections to the olive. Three projections are distributed ipsilaterally in the caudal part of the medial accessory olive, at mid-level of the dorsal accessory olive and in the ventrolateral bend of the principal olive, at rostral levels. There is also a small controlateral projection to the caudal part of the medial accessory olive. the spinal trigeminal nucleus sends crossed projections to the rostral part of the dorsal accessory olive and adjacent ventral lamella as well as to the caudal part of the medial accessory olive. The lateral reticular nucleus sends an extensive ipsilateral projection to the caudal part of the medial accessory olive and provides a small contribution to the same subdivision, contralaterally. All these projections converge with other known afferents to the olive.     

Two types of rostroventral medulla neurons projecting to the trigeminal spinal nucleus as differentiated by the response to antidromic activation and the histological location

A population of neurons in the rostroventral medulla, which send their axons to the subnucleus oralis of the trigeminal spinal nucleus of rats, could be differentiated into two types on the basis of their location and the variability of antidromic latency during repetitive stimulation at 10 Hz. Type A neurons were mostly located in the raphe magnus and were activated antidromically with a relatively long latency, which gradually increased during repetitive stimulation. By contrast, type B neurons were located in the medial portion of the gigantocellular reticular nucleus, and responded with a relatively short, stable antidromic latency.     

Descending projections from the caudal medulla oblongata to the superficial or deep dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord

The location of neurons in the caudal medulla oblongata that project to the superficial or deep dorsal horn was studied in the rat, by means of retrograde labelling from confined spinal injection sites. The tracer cholera toxin subunit B was injected into laminae I–III (fuve rats) or I–V (three rats) at C_4–7 spinal segments. Neurons projecting to the superficial dorsal horn were located in the dorsomedial part of the dorsal reticular nucleus ipsilaterally, the subnucleus commissuralis of the nucleus tractus solitarius bilaterally, and a region occupying the lateralmost part of the ventrolateral reticular formation between the lateral reticular nucleus and the caudal pole of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, pars caudalis, bilaterally. Neurons projecting to the deep dorsal horn, which were only labelled when laminae I–V were filled by the tracer, occurred in the dorsomedial and ventrolateral parts of the dorsal reticular nucleus and in the ventral reticular nucleus bilaterally. A few cells were located in the above described lateralmost portion of the ventrolateral reticular formation bilaterally and in the ventral portion of the ipsilateral cuneate nucleus. In the light of previous data demonstrating that dorsal horn neurons project to the dorsal reticular nucleus, the ventrolateral reticular formation, and the nucleus tractus solitarius, and that neurons in these three medullary regions are involved in pain inhibition at the spinal level, the descending projections demonstrated here suggest the occurrence of spino-medullary-spinal loops mediating the analgesic actions elicited in each nucleus upon the arrival of nociceptive input from the dorsal horn.     

大鼠三叉神经中脑核神经元中枢突在脑干内投射的光、电镜观察(中脑核-丘脑投射通路研究之一)

为了进一步搞清三叉神经中脑核(Vine)向丘脑的投射通路,本文首先用HRP跨节追踪技术在大鼠研究了接受咬肌本体觉传入的Vme神经元中枢突在脑干内的终止情况。结果证明它除终止于三叉运动核及三叉上核外,主要终止于面神经核水平的三叉神经脊束核吻侧亚核背内侧部(Vodm)及邻接的外侧网状结构(LRF)。在电镜观察到Vme神经元中枢突终末在Vodm区主要和该区内的树突形成突触。并观察到这些终末接受另外来源的神经终末的突触前控制。     

Trigeminal primary afferent neurons projecting directly to the solitary nucleus in the cat: A transganglionic and retrograde horseradish peroxidase study

After applying horseradish peroxidase to peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve in the cat, the lingual and pterygopalatine nerves were found to contain fibers which ended ipsilaterally in the rostral portions of the solitary nucleus (SN); massively in the medial and ventrolateral SN, moderately in the intermediate and interstitial SN and sparsely in the ventral SN. The rostralmost part of the SN was free from labeled terminals. After injecting the enzyme into the SN portions rostral to the area postrema, small neurons were scattered in the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal ganglion.     

大鼠中缝大核向脊髓投射神经元与神经降压素能终末的突触联系

神经降压素(NT)是中枢下行抑制系统的重要神经活性物质。本研究运用免疫组织化学与逆行追踪法相结合的双标技术,在电镜下观察NT能终末与中缝大核(NRM)向脊髓投射神经元的突触联系。在光镜下可见NT阳性纤维和终末散在分布于NRM,但未见NT阳性神经元;将HRP注入腰髓背角后,在NRM内可见比较密集的HRP逆标神经元。在电镜下可见NT阳性终末与HRP逆标神经元的胞体和树突形成以非对称性为主的轴-体突触和轴-树突触。上述结果说明NT可能调控NRM向脊髓背角投射神经元的活动,借此对伤害性信息向中枢的传递发挥抑制效应。     

大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质向三叉神经脊束核尾侧亚核的5-羟色胺能投射

大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质(PAG)向三又神经脊束核尾侧亚核(Sp 5 C)投射的起源细胞在其吻、中、尾三个部分的分布不同,且由尾段向吻段有从腹侧向背侧移行的趋势。尾段的HRP逆标细胞主要位于PAG的腹外侧区、内侧区腹侧部;中段的标记细胞较多,主要见于腹外侧区、背侧区和背外侧区腹侧部,尚可见一些顺行标记的终末;吻段的标记细胞主要位于背外侧区,在上丘深层、Cajal氏中介核、Darkschewitsch氏核内,也可见标记细胞。标记细胞和终末均主要位于注射侧的PAG内。PAG向Sp 5 C投射的5-羟色胺(5-HT)样神经元主要位于PAG的中、尾段的腹外侧区和内侧区腹侧部。中段的双标细胞占全部双标细胞数的57％,尾段占41％,吻段占2％。在背中缝核(DR)内,亦可见到一些双标细胞。PAG内的双标细胞占其HRP标记细胞总数的37％,但仅占5-HT样阳性细胞总数的4.5％。标记细胞主要为中型(20—30μm)梭形及三角形,小型(<20μm)梭形和大型(>30μm)多角形细胞较少见。     

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.