A double retrograde fluorescent tracing analysis of dorsal column nuclear projections to the basilar pontine nuclei, thalamus, and superior colliculus in the rat.
Injections of the fluorescent dyes Nuclear yellow and True blue were used to determine that the dorsal column nuclei project in collateral fashion to the basilar pontine nuclei (BPN) and the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus or the BPN and the superior colliculus. Results indicated that relatively few dorsal column nuclear cells project to both the basilar pons and the superior colliculus. In contrast, many dorsal column nuclear cells that project to the BPN also give rise to collateral projections to the thalamus. Thus it is suggested that the latter dorsal column-BPN connections might at least represent in part the anatomical substrate for the electrophysiological demonstration that cerebellar granule cells can be activated at relatively short latency by peripheral tactile receptor stimulation.
Kosinski
R J
RJ
Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas, Health Science Center, Dallas 75235.
Lee
H S
HS
Mihailoff
G A
GA
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001572:Benzofurans; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011149:Pons / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001572:Benzofurans; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C038675:true blue; C036574:nuclear yellow; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides