title: Viscerotopic representation of the subdiaphragmatic tracts of the digestive apparatus within the vagus complex in the sheep.
abstract: The distribution in the brainstem and cervical spinal cord of neurons supplying the reticulum and the reticular groove, the rumen, the omasum, the abomasum, and the small and large intestine was investigated in the sheep using the fluorescent retrograde tracer technique. Only the reticulum and reticular groove were represented in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMNX), in the nucleus ambiguus (NA), and in the nucleus retroambigualis (NRA). The other forestomach, the abomasum and the small intestine were supplied by the DMNX only, with the exception of the rumen which was also innervated by the NRA. Some reticular formation neurons were found labeled after the injection of the tracer into the reticulum, the reticular groove, and the rumen. We present evidence that the reticular groove is the part of the forestomach having the widest representation, and also the richest innervation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology and Animal Productions, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiocchetti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clavenzani
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barazzoni
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandis
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardi
authors.forename: Giovanna Lalatta
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Costerbosa
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrosino
authors.forename: Giulia Bompadre
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Avoni
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bortolami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004064:Digestive System / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology*; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014781:Viscera / Q000294:innervation