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Supraspinal cell populations projecting to the cerebellar cortex in the turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans)

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Summary

Neuronal cell populations giving rise to cerebellar projections in the turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans, were analysed following injections of horseradish peroxidase into the cerebellar cortex. The most prominent retrograde cell labeling occurred bilaterally within the caudal rhombencephalon and especially in the ventral portion of the inferior reticular field. Based on the structural parameters of the labeled cells (size, dendritic tree), their location and laterality of projection, attempts were made to identify cell groups similar to the inferior olive, the lateral funicular (reticular) nucleus and the perihypoglossal complex of other vertebrates. There were some labeled neurons within the descending and principal trigeminal nuclei, but few if any within the dorsal column nuclear complex. Cerebellar projections on the other hand clearly arose from the n.vestibularis inferior and n.vestibularis dorsolateralis on both sides.

While there was little evidence for labeled cells located in a similar position as the pontine nuclei of higher vertebrates, a conspicuous number of neurons were observed in meso-diencephalic regions. Confirming the findings of Reiner and Karten (1978) characteristic accumulations of cells were seen in the nucleus opticus tegmenti, in the ipsilateral mesencephalic tegmentum and lateral and ventral to the ipsilateral nucleus pretectalis. Additional neurons were found in the periventricular hypothalamus, the nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis and in the n.interstitialis of flm on both sides as well as in the red nucleus.

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Abbreviations

A:

rhombencephalic cell population

Ab:

n.nervi abducentis

Ap:

cell population at the spino-medullary level

B:

rhombencephalic cell population

C:

rhombencephalic cell population

Cbl:

cerebellum

CoM:

n.cochlearis dorsalis magnocellularis

D:

rhombencephalic cell population

DC:

dorsal column nuclear complex

Fa:

n.nervi facialis

FLM:

n. of flm

flm:

fasciculus longitudinalis medialis

GL:

n.geniculatus lateralis

Hg:

n.motorius nervi hypoglossi

Hy:

hypothalamus

ICP:

n.interstitialis commissuralis posterior

IFLM:

n.interstitialis of flm

IsM:

n. isthmi, pars magnocellularis

MTg:

mesencephalic tegmentum

Om:

n.nervi oculomotorii

om:

nervus oculomotorius

OT:

optic tectum

ot:

optic tract

OTg:

n.opticus tegmenti

PHg:

perihypoglossal region

PrT:

pretectum

Prt:

n.praetectalis

RaI:

n.raphes inferior

RaS:

n.raphes superior

RFI:

reticular formation, inferior field

RFIs:

reticular formation, isthmic field

RFM:

reticular formation, medial field

Ru:

n.ruber

So:

n.tractus solitarii

To:

n.nervi trochlearis

tr:

nervus trigeminus

TrM:

n.motorius nervi trigemini

TrMe:

n.mesencephalicus nervi trigemini

TrP:

n.princeps nervi trigemini

VeDl:

n.vestibularis dorsolateralis

VeI:

n.vestibularis inferior

VeVl:

n.vestibularis ventrolateralis

VgMD:

n.motorius dorsalis nervi vagi

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  1. Brain Research Institute, University of Zürich, August Forel-Str. 1, CH-8029, Zürich, Switzerland

    H. Künzle

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  1. H. Künzle
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Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant No. 3.433.78 and No. 3.505.79) and the Dr. Eric Slack-Gyr Stiftung, Zürich

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Künzle, H. Supraspinal cell populations projecting to the cerebellar cortex in the turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans). Exp Brain Res 49, 1–12 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235536

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235536

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