title: Stereotaxic atlas of the brainstem of the muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus.
abstract: The muskrat is an aquatic rodent of moderate size and possesses dramatic respiratory and cardiovascular behaviors in response to submersion, stimulation of the upper respiratory tract, or environmental cues. This report provides a stereotaxic atlas of the muskrat's brainstem in the transverse plane to facilitate studies requiring an accurate localization of discrete brain structures. Plates are presented of brainstem sections between the obex and superior colliculus separated by 450 microns. Each figure shows a Nissl stained hemisection complemented by a line drawing. Our data shows mature muskrats have relatively uniform craniometric dimensions promoting their use for stereotaxic placements in their brains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, MO 63104.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Panneton
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques