Anatomical investigation of the corticonuclear projections to the facial nerve nucleus in the cat.
The present study was performed to demonstrate a cortical projection to the facial nucleus of the cat. The right facial nucleus of 16 cats was injected with the retrograde tracer horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After allowing 36 hours for the retrograde transport of HRP, the animals were sacrificed by perfusion. The cortex, midbrain, and brain stem were removed, frozen sectioned, and reacted for HRP activity. Labeled pyramidal type cells were found bilaterally in layer V of the anterior sigmoid, presylvian, and coronal gyri of the frontal cerebral cortex. A significantly greater number of labeled cells were present in the contralateral motor cortex. Labeled cells were also found in the contralateral red nucleus, ipsilateral oculomotor nucleus, and periaqueductal gray substance of the midbrain.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011149:Pons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase