title: Vestibular nuclear complex in cattle: topography, morphology, cytoarchitecture and lumbo-sacral projections.
abstract: The topography and the main characteristics of the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC) in cattle have been studied in serially transversally cut Nissl and Gles-stained sections. By using computerized image analysis software, the cell size, the maximum and minimum diameter of the neurons of each vestibular nucleus were obtained. These parameters were statistically analyzed by comparing the cell population from different nuclei and different parts of each nucleus. Furthermore, in order to investigate the lumbo-sacral projections, the fluorescent tracer Fast Blue was injected into the L6-S1 spinal cord of three calves. Among the vestibular nuclei, the superior was the least extensive rostro-caudally, the medial was the most extensive and contained the smallest cells, the lateral showed the largest neurons, and the descending nucleus contained cells of intermediate size which decreased in a rostrocaudal direction. Concerning the lumbo-sacral projections of the bovine VNC, the present study showed that only the fibers coming from the lateral vestibular nucleus reached the L6-S1 spinal cord. The labelled neurons were most heavily concentrated in the dorsal portion of this nucleus, but scattered neurons were also observed throughout the entire extension of the nucleus. The differences between the descriptions of cattle and other species were described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology and Animal Productions, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy. annamaria.grandis@unibo.it
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandis
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardi
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Travostini
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joechler
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pisoni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiocchetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D012447:Sacrum; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000166:cytology*