Olivary projections to the cerebellar nuclei in the cat

Summary Projections from the inferior olive to the cerebellar nuclei have been studied in the cat using Nauta's silver technique. 1. Numerous degenerating terminals occur after lesions in the inferior olivary complex in the medial nuclei of both sides; the degeneration is considerably less in the subnucl. medialis parvicellularis of both sides. In the interpositus nuclei of both sides degenerating terminals are also abundant, especially in their dorsal and lateral parts. In the lateral nucleus a number of degenerating terminals are seen on both sides restricted to dorsal and lateral parts of the nuclei. Degeneration is scanty in the subnucl. lateralis parvicellularis. 2. Projection of the olivocerebellar fibers to the cerebellar nuclei is always bilateral. The fibers originate in the inferior olive and ascend mainly through the contralateral, however, some also through the ipsilateral restiform body. The olivocerebellar fibers that have crossed in the medulla terminate in the medial and the interpositus nuclei of both sides. It is suggested that the degenerating terminals found in the cerebellar nuclei are derived from collaterals of the olivocerebellar tract fibers.