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Identification of stapedius muscle motoneurons in squirrel monkey and bush baby
Author(s) -
Thompson Glenn C.,
Igarashi Makoto,
Stach Brad A.
Publication year - 1985
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.902310214
Subject(s) - biology , nissl body , squirrel monkey , anatomy , brainstem , motor neuron , acoustic reflex , horseradish peroxidase , neuroscience , reflex , staining , spinal cord , biochemistry , genetics , enzyme
The location of brainstem neurons which mediate the stapedius reflex was identified by injecting horseradish peroxidase into the stapedius muscle of squirrel monkeys and bush babies. Retrogradely labeled neurons, arranged in a one‐ to three‐cell column, were found medial to the main facial motor nucleus in squirrel monkeys and ventral to it in bush babies. Nissl, protargol, and acetylcholinesterase stains were subsequently used to identify and describe this unique column of cells. It was found that staining characteristics, as well as shape, size, and location, distinguish stapedius muscle motoneurons from closely associated cell groups. Furthermore, stapedius muscle motoneurons are morphologically similar to periolivary cells and morphologically dissimilar to cells within the facial motor nucleus.