TY - JOUR
T1 - The central projections of the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves
T2 - an autoradiographic study in the rat
AU - Contreras, Robert J.
AU - Beckstead, Robert M.
AU - Norgren, Ralph
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Patrick McCabe and Janet M. Hoffman for their excellent technical assistance. This research was supported by National Institute of Health Grants NS-05296 and HL-24732 to R.J.C., NS-06031 to R.M.B., and NS-10150 as well as BNS-76-81408 and BNS-80-06444 from the National Science Foundation to R. N.
PY - 1982/11
Y1 - 1982/11
N2 - The central distributions of primary afferent axons in the facial, trigeminal (mandibular branch), glossopharyngeal, and vagal nerves of the rat have been re-examined using the autoradiographic tracing technique after injections of [3H]proline or [3H]leucine into their peripheral ganglia. Within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), the labeled terminals from VII, V, IX and X form a continuous distribution that spans the length of this nucleus. Sensory axons in VII terminate mainly within the lateral division of the rostral NST, although some of the terminals extend further caudally within the nucleus. Immediately caudal to the rostral NST, the distribution continues with major contributions from V and IX. Both are confined mainly to the lateral division of the NST, although some of the fibers in IX terminate within the medial division. Injections into the inferior ganglion of X confirm the extensive distribution of vagal axons as they ramify significantly within the lateral division, and virtually monopolize the medial division of the NST. Thus, the major zone of convergency for these 4 cranial nerves is the lateral division of the nucleus from the level of the entering fascicles of IX caudally to the level of the area postrema. Furthermore, only X has a crossed projection as vagal axons invade the commissural nucleus and the medial division of the contralateral NST. Vagal fibers also enter the area postrema bilaterally. Finally, some afferent fibers VII. IX and X descend in the dorsal part of the spinal trigeminal tract and terminate within the marginal subdivision of the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis, as well as the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord.
AB - The central distributions of primary afferent axons in the facial, trigeminal (mandibular branch), glossopharyngeal, and vagal nerves of the rat have been re-examined using the autoradiographic tracing technique after injections of [3H]proline or [3H]leucine into their peripheral ganglia. Within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), the labeled terminals from VII, V, IX and X form a continuous distribution that spans the length of this nucleus. Sensory axons in VII terminate mainly within the lateral division of the rostral NST, although some of the terminals extend further caudally within the nucleus. Immediately caudal to the rostral NST, the distribution continues with major contributions from V and IX. Both are confined mainly to the lateral division of the NST, although some of the fibers in IX terminate within the medial division. Injections into the inferior ganglion of X confirm the extensive distribution of vagal axons as they ramify significantly within the lateral division, and virtually monopolize the medial division of the NST. Thus, the major zone of convergency for these 4 cranial nerves is the lateral division of the nucleus from the level of the entering fascicles of IX caudally to the level of the area postrema. Furthermore, only X has a crossed projection as vagal axons invade the commissural nucleus and the medial division of the contralateral NST. Vagal fibers also enter the area postrema bilaterally. Finally, some afferent fibers VII. IX and X descend in the dorsal part of the spinal trigeminal tract and terminate within the marginal subdivision of the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis, as well as the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord.
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U2 - 10.1016/0165-1838(82)90003-0
DO - 10.1016/0165-1838(82)90003-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 7169500
AN - SCOPUS:0020448468
SN - 0165-1838
VL - 6
SP - 303
EP - 322
JO - Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System
JF - Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System
IS - 3
ER -