Biomaterial Database

Propriospinal afferent and efferent connections of the lateral and medial areas of the dorsal horn (laminae I-IV) in the rat lumbar spinal cord. 2000

M Petkó, and M Antal

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University Medical School of Debrecen, Debrecen H-4012, Hungary.

The different subdivisions along the mediolateral extent of the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord are generally regarded as identical structures that execute the function of sensory information processing without any significant communication with other regions of the spinal gray matter. In contrast to this standing, here we endeavor to show that neural assemblies along the mediolateral extent of laminae I-IV cannot be regarded as identical structures. After injecting Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and biotinylated dextran amine into various areas of the superficial dorsal horn (laminae I-IV) at the level of the lumbar spinal cord in rats, we have demonstrated that the medial and lateral areas of the superficial dorsal horn show the following distinct features in their propriospinal afferent and efferent connections: 1) A 300- to 400-microm-long section of the medial aspects of laminae I-IV projects to and receives afferent fibers from a three segment long compartment of the spinal dorsal gray matter, whereas the same length of the lateral aspects of laminae I-IV projects to and receives afferent fibers from the entire rostrocaudal extent of the lumbar spinal cord. 2) The medial aspects of laminae I-IV project extensively to the lateral areas of the superficial dorsal horn. In contrast to this, the lateral areas of laminae I-IV, with the exception of a few fibers at the segmental level, do not project back to the medial territories. 3) There is a substantial direct commissural connection between the lateral aspects of laminae I-IV on the two sides of the lumbar spinal cord. The medial part of laminae I-IV, however, does not establish any direct connection with the gray matter on the opposite side. 4) The lateral aspects of laminae I-IV appear to be the primary source of fibers projecting to the ipsi- and contralateral ventral horns and supraspinal brain centers. Projecting fibers arise from the medial subdivision of laminae I-IV in a substantially lower number. The findings indicate that the medial and lateral areas of the superficial spinal dorsal horn of rats may play different roles in sensory information processing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008159	Lumbar Vertebrae	VERTEBRAE in the region of the lower BACK below the THORACIC VERTEBRAE and above the SACRAL VERTEBRAE.	Vertebrae, Lumbar
D008297	Male		Males
D010835	Phytohemagglutinins	Mucoproteins isolated from the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them are mitogenic to lymphocytes, others agglutinate all or certain types of erythrocytes or lymphocytes. They are used mainly in the study of immune mechanisms and in cell culture.	Kidney Bean Lectin,Kidney Bean Lectins,Lectins, Kidney Bean,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectins,Phytohemagglutinin,Hemagglutinins, Plant,Lectin, Kidney Bean,Lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris,Lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris,Plant Hemagglutinins
D001931	Brain Mapping	Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures.	Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D003911	Dextrans	A group of glucose polymers made by certain bacteria. Dextrans are used therapeutically as plasma volume expanders and anticoagulants. They are also commonly used in biological experimentation and in industry for a wide variety of purposes.	Dextran,Dextran 40,Dextran 40000,Dextran 70,Dextran 75,Dextran 80,Dextran B-1355,Dextran B-1355-S,Dextran B1355,Dextran B512,Dextran Derivatives,Dextran M 70,Dextran T 70,Dextran T-40,Dextran T-500,Hemodex,Hyskon,Infukoll,Macrodex,Polyglucin,Promit,Rheodextran,Rheoisodex,Rheomacrodex,Rheopolyglucin,Rondex,Saviosol,Dextran B 1355,Dextran B 1355 S,Dextran T 40,Dextran T 500
D004525	Efferent Pathways	Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a nerve center toward a peripheral site. Such impulses are conducted via efferent neurons (NEURONS, EFFERENT), such as MOTOR NEURONS, autonomic neurons, and hypophyseal neurons.	Motor Pathways,Efferent Pathway,Pathway, Efferent,Pathways, Efferent
D005456	Fluorescent Dyes	Chemicals that emit light after excitation by light. The wave length of the emitted light is usually longer than that of the incident light. Fluorochromes are substances that cause fluorescence in other substances, i.e., dyes used to mark or label other compounds with fluorescent tags.	Flourescent Agent,Fluorescent Dye,Fluorescent Probe,Fluorescent Probes,Fluorochrome,Fluorochromes,Fluorogenic Substrates,Fluorescence Agents,Fluorescent Agents,Fluorogenic Substrate,Agents, Fluorescence,Agents, Fluorescent,Dyes, Fluorescent,Probes, Fluorescent,Substrates, Fluorogenic
D000344	Afferent Pathways	Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center.	Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon