Corticopontine terminal fibres form small scale clusters and large scale lamellae in the cat.
We investigated whether terminal fibres in the pontine nuclei are arranged in a lamellar pattern like that demonstrated earlier for pontocerebellar neurones. Following tracer injections in visual and parietal cortices and subsequent computer-based 3-D analysis, we found that labelled corticopontine terminal fibres form numerous sharply delimited aggregates of variable shape. Several of the aggregates are cylindroids (diameter 200-300 microns, length 1-3 mm). The aggregates are confined to a lamellar subspace, the position of which depends on the anteroposterior location of the cortical injections. These findings suggest that the cerebroponto-cerebellar system may be organized according to fairly simple, topographical rules. We discuss the implications of our results in relation to the development of corticopontine topographical organization.
Bjaalie
J G
JG
Department of Anatomy, University of Oslo, Norway.
Sudbø
J
J
Brodal
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011149:Pons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*