Biomaterial Database

Morphological and electrophysiological identification of gigantocellular tegmental field neurons with descending projections in the cat: I. Pons. 1988

A Mitani, and K Ito, and Y Mitani, and R W McCarley

Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School/Brockton VAMC, Massachusetts 02401.

Two different descending projections from the pontine gigantocellular tegmental field (PFTG) were defined by the use of intracellular recording and intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) techniques in the cat. Type I neurons (reticulospinal neurons) had antidromic spike potentials produced by stimulation of the ipsilateral medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) and sent axons to the ipsilateral MLF. Most type I neurons had large ellipsoidpolygonal somata (mean, 59.7 microns), thick axons (average diameter, 3.33 microns), and slightly oblate large dendritic fields. The mean anteroposterior extent of the dendritic field was 1,492 microns, the mean mediolateral extent was 1,784 microns, and the mean dorsoventral extent was 1,562 microns. There were no type I neurons with axon collaterals. In contrast, type II neurons (reticuloreticular neurons) had antidromic spike potentials produced by stimulation of the bulbar reticular formation (BRF) and sent axons directly to the BRF. In comparison with type I neurons, most type II neurons had smaller ellipsoidpolygonal somata (mean, 40.2 microns), thinner axons (average diameter, 2.32 microns), and smaller, slightly oblate dendritic fields. The mean anteroposterior extent of the dendritic field was 1,264 microns; the mean mediolateral extent was 1,511 microns; and the mean dorsoventral extent was 1,226 microns. Also in contrast to type I neurons, 36% of type II neurons had axon collaterals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011149	Pons	The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM.	Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D012154	Reticular Formation	A region extending from the PONS & MEDULLA OBLONGATA through the MESENCEPHALON, characterized by a diversity of neurons of various sizes and shapes, arranged in different aggregations and enmeshed in a complicated fiber network.	Formation, Reticular,Formations, Reticular,Reticular Formations
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
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D003712	Dendrites	Extensions of the nerve cell body. They are short and branched and receive stimuli from other NEURONS.	Dendrite
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
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D006735	Horseradish Peroxidase	An enzyme isolated from horseradish which is able to act as an antigen. It is frequently used as a histochemical tracer for light and electron microscopy. Its antigenicity has permitted its use as a combined antigen and marker in experimental immunology.	Alpha-Peroxidase,Ferrihorseradish Peroxidase,Horseradish Peroxidase II,Horseradish Peroxidase III,Alpha Peroxidase,II, Horseradish Peroxidase,III, Horseradish Peroxidase,Peroxidase II, Horseradish,Peroxidase III, Horseradish,Peroxidase, Ferrihorseradish,Peroxidase, Horseradish
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential