Location of efferent terminals of the primate flocculus and ventral paraflocculus revealed by anterograde axonal transport methods.
Efferents of the flocculus (FL) and ventral paraflocculus (VP) were examined in seven anesthetized Macaca fuscata by anterograde axonal transport method using wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase or phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. Several major foci of axon terminals were found in the vestibular nuclear complex and cerebellar nuclei. A difference was seen in the location of efferent terminals between the FL and VP. When the tracer covered the FL, labeled axon terminals were located within the medial and ventrolateral parts of the medial vestibular nucleus, superior vestibular nucleus and y-group. When the tracer covered the VP, labeled axon terminals were located within the caudo-ventral part of posterior interpositus and dentate nuclei, in addition to the medial and ventrolateral parts of the medial vestibular nucleus, superior vestibular nucleus and y-group. Labeled terminals were virtually absent in the basal interstitial nucleus of the cerebellum. On the points of neo- or paleo-cerebellar cortex fiber connections, these results correspond to our previous anatomical observations that the FL received mossy fiber afferents mainly from the vestibular system and nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis and very little from the pontine nuclei, whereas the VP received mossy afferents mainly from the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis and pontine nuclei and very little from the vestibular system. These anatomical observations are consistent with a hypothesis in our previous anatomical and physiological study that the primate FL and VP mediate rather different functional roles in the oculomotor control.
Nagao
S
S
Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan. nagaos@jichi.ac.jp
Kitamura
T
T
Nakamura
N
N
Hiramatsu
T
T
Yamada
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008251:Macaca; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology*