Trigeminal and dorsal column nuclei projections to the anterior pretectal nucleus in the rat

The projections of the trigeminal (V) sensory nuclei (VSN) and the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) to the anterior pretectal nucleus (APT) of the rat were investigated by the use of anterograde and retrograde transport of wheat-germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Injections of WGA-HRP into the APT retrogradely labeled neurons in the contralateral VSN and DCN. The labeled neurons in the VSN were most concentrated in the rostral V subnucleus interpolaris (Vi), but were also found in caudal V subnucleus oralis (Vo). No labeled neurons were seen in V subnucleus caudalis. In the DCN, retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in rostral portions of both the cuneate (Cu) and gracile (Gr) nuclei. Injections of WGA-HRP into the rostral Vi or caudal Vo resulted in dense anterograde terminal labeling in the ventral two-thirds of the APT; the labeling was maximal in the ventromedial part of the caudal half of the APT and did not extend into its most rostral portion. Labeling resulting from injections of tracer into Cu or Gr was located primarily in the ventral half of the APT, was maximal in the mid-levels of the nucleus and extended into its rostral portions. These results indicate the existence of prominent somatosensory projections to the APT and are consistent with recent findings suggesting a role for the APT in sensorimotor integration.