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Midbrain nuclei projecting to the medial medulla oblongata in the monkey
Author(s) -
Chung Jin Mo,
Kevetter Golda A.,
Yezierski Robert P.,
Haber Lawrence H.,
Martin Richard F.,
Willis William D.
Publication year - 1983
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.902140110
Subject(s) - superior colliculus , nucleus , inferior colliculus , medulla oblongata , midbrain , anatomy , serotonergic cell groups , brainstem , pretectal area , parvocellular cell , biology , pons , nucleus raphe magnus , neuroscience , periaqueductal gray , medulla , reticular formation , central nervous system , biochemistry , receptor , serotonergic , serotonin
To identify the midbrain nuclei that project to the medial part of the lower brainstem in the monkey, labeled cells were mapped in the midbrain following the injection of horseradish peroxidase into the medial medulla oblongata. After the general distribution of labeled cells was observed in three animals with large injections, more discrete injections of HRP were made in different locations in six additional animals. The small injections were centered in the nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus reticularis giganto‐cellularis, or nucleus medullae oblongatae centralis. The five labeled mid‐brain nuclei were the periaqueductal gray, nucleus cuneiformis, deep layers of the superior colliculus, nucleus of Darkschewitsch, and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal. In addition, the parvocellular division of the red nucleus and the posterior pretectal nucleus contained large numbers of cells when the injection spread into the inferior olive. No major differences in the distribution of labeled cells between different injection sites were found with the exception that the superior colliculus did not contain any labeled cells when the injection was restricted to midline structures. The functional implications of these anatomical findings are discussed in relation to the descending control of pain.