A Golgi study on the red nucleus in the mouse.
The intrinsic organization of the red nucleus (RN) was studied in the mouse using the rapid Golgi method. Cytoarchitecturally, the RN was divided into the magnocellular (RNmc) and parvocellular parts (RNpc). The former occupied the caudal one-third and the latter formed the rostral two-thirds of the RN. Based primarily on the size of somata, the RN neurons were classified into four types: giant, large, medium-sized and small neurons. Of these, the former two types of neurons were distributed mainly in the RNmc, while the latter two types of neurons were seen mainly in the RNpc. Axons of the RN neurons, at least those of the former three types of neurons, ran medially or caudomedially. Some axons ran across the mesencephalic raphe region to be lost in the medial region of the contralateral tegmentum. Two groups of afferent fibers to the RN were distinguished. Group I afferents were fibers composing the superior cerebellar peduncle. After crossing in the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle, these fibers entered the RN from the caudomedial aspect, ran rostrally in the nucleus emitting numerous collaterals. Group II afferents reached the RN from the ventrolateral aspect and traveled mediodorsally to be distributed totally within this nucleus.
Iwahori
N
N
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan.
Nakamura
K
K
D000818:Animals; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*