Summary
Descending brainstem projections from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) were studied in the rat by use of the anterograde tracerPhaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and the retrograde tracer lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (HRP-WGA). Results of these experiments demonstrated prominent bilateral projections to the pontomedullary reticular nuclei, but direct connections to the motor and sensory nuclei of the cranial nerves could not be ascertained. The PPN fibers terminated mainly in the pontine reticular nuclei oralis and caudalis and in ventromedial portions (pars alpha and pars ventralis) of the gigantocellular reticular nucleus. A smaller number of labeled fibers distributed to more dorsal regions of the gigantocellular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular, ventral reticular nucleus of the medulla and lateral reticular nucleus. Although a significant number of PHA-L labeled fibers was seen in two cases in the contralateral medial portion of the facial nucleus, and all cases exhibited a sparse predominantly ipsilateral projection to the lateral facial motor neurons, the retrograde tracing experiments have revealed that these facial afferents originated in the nuclei surrounding the PPN. The results are discussed in the context of PPN involvement in motor functions. It is suggested that the PPN may participate in a complex network involved in the orienting reflex.
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Abbreviations
- Am :
-
ambiguus nucleus
- AP :
-
area postrema
- Ac 7 :
-
accessory facial nucleus
- asc 7 :
-
ascending fibers, facial nerve
- CG :
-
central gray
- Cnf :
-
cuneiform nucleus
- Cu :
-
cuneate nucleus
- cp :
-
cerebral peduncle
- g7 :
-
germ facial nerve
- Gi :
-
gigantocellular reticular nucleus
- GiA :
-
gigantocellular reticular nucleus, pars alpha
- GiV :
-
gigantocellular reticular nucleus, pars ventralis
- Gr :
-
gracile nucleus
- IC :
-
inferior colliculus
- icp :
-
inferior cerebellar peduncle
- IO :
-
inferior olive
- IRt :
-
intermediate reticular nucleus
- KF :
-
Kölliker-Fuse nucleus
- LC :
-
locus coeruleus
- ll :
-
lateral lemniscus
- vsc :
-
ventral spinocerebellar tract
- xscp :
-
decussation of superior cerebellar peduncle
- 3 :
-
oculomotor nucleus
- 4 :
-
trochlear nucleus
- 6 :
-
abducens nucleus
- 5n :
-
trigeminal nerve
- 7 :
-
facial nucleus
- 7n :
-
facial nerve
- 10 :
-
dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
- 12 :
-
hypoglossal nucleus
- MPB :
-
medial parabrachial nucleus
- MVe :
-
medial vestibular nucleus
- PCRt :
-
parvicellular reticular nucleus
- PN :
-
pontine nucleus
- PPNe :
-
pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, pars compacta
- PPNd :
-
pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, pars dissipata
- Pr5 :
-
principal sensory trigeminal nucleus
- py :
-
pyramidal tract
- pyx :
-
pyramidal decussation
- Rmes :
-
mesencephalic reticular nucleus
- RN :
-
red nucleus
- RPc :
-
reticularis pontis caudalis nucleus
- Rpo :
-
reticularis pontis oralis nucleus
- RR :
-
retrorubral nucleus
- RRF :
-
retrorubral field rs rubrospinal tract
- SC :
-
superior colliculus
- scp :
-
superior cerebellar peduncle
- LPB :
-
lateral parabrachial nucleus
- LPGi :
-
lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus
- LRt :
-
lateral reticular nucleus
- LSO :
-
lateral superior olive
- LVe :
-
lateral vestibular nucleus
- MdD :
-
medullary reticular nucleus, dorsal
- MdV :
-
medullary reticular nucleus, ventral
- Me5 :
-
mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus
- me5 :
-
mesencephalic trigeminal tract
- ml :
-
medial lemniscus
- mlf :
-
medial longitudinal fasciculus
- Mo5 :
-
motor trigeminal nucleus
- SNc :
-
substantia nigra, pars compacta
- SNr :
-
substantia nigra, pars reticulata
- SO :
-
superior olive
- Sol :
-
nucleus of the solitary tract
- sol :
-
solitary tract
- sp5 :
-
spinal trigeminal tract
- Sp5o :
-
spinal trigeminal nucleus, pars oralis
- SPTg :
-
subpeduncular tegmental nucleus
- SpVe :
-
spinal vestibular nucleus
- Tz :
-
nucleus of the trapezoid body
- tz :
-
trapezoid body
- VLL :
-
ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus
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This paper is dedicated to Professor Fred Walberg on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
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Grofova, I., Keane, S. Descending brainstem projections of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in the rat. Anat Embryol 184, 275–290 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01673262
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01673262