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Zonal organization of the mouse flocculus: Physiology, input, and output
Author(s) -
Schonewille Martijn,
Luo Chongde,
Ruigrok Tom J. H.,
Voogd Jan,
Schmolesky Matthew T.,
Rutteman Mandy,
Hoebeek Freek E.,
De Jeu Marcel T. G.,
De Zeeuw Chris I.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.21036
Subject(s) - flocculus , medial vestibular nucleus , lateral vestibular nucleus , biology , biotinylated dextran amine , anatomy , purkinje cell , climbing fiber , neuroscience , cerebellum , nucleus , vestibular system , medulla oblongata , inferior olivary nucleus , vestibular nuclei , central nervous system
The zones of the flocculus have been mapped in many species with a noticeable exception, the mouse. Here, the functional map of the mouse was constructed via extracellular recordings followed by tracer injections of biotinylated‐dextran‐amine and immunohistochemistry for heat‐shock protein‐25. Zones were identified based on the Purkinje cell complex spike modulation occurring in response to optokinetic stimulation. In zones 1 and 3 Purkinje cells responded best to rotation about a horizontal axis oriented at 135° ipsilateral azimuth, whereas in zones 2 and 4 they responded best to rotation about the vertical axis. The tracing experiments showed that Purkinje cells of zone 1 projected to the parvicellular part of lateral cerebellar nucleus and superior vestibular nucleus, while Purkinje cells of zone 3 projected to group Y and the superior vestibular nucleus. Purkinje cells of zones 2 and 4 projected to the magnocellular and parvicellular parts of the medial vestibular nucleus, while some also innervated the lateral vestibular nucleus or nucleus prepositus hypoglossi. The climbing fiber inputs to Purkinje cells in zones 1 and 3 were derived from neurons in the ventrolateral outgrowth of the contralateral inferior olive, whereas those in zones 2 and 4 were derived from the contralateral caudal dorsal cap. Purkinje cells in zones 1 and 2, but not in zones 3 and 4, were positively labeled for heat‐shock protein‐25. The present study illustrates that Purkinje cells in the murine flocculus are organized in discrete zones with specific functions, specific input — output relations, and a specific histochemical signature. J. Comp. Neurol. 497:670–682, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.