Convergence on the same neurons in the feline ventrobasal thalamus of terminals from the dorsal column and the lateral cervical nuclei: an ultrastructural study combining orthograde degeneration and anterograde axonal transport of lectin conjugated horseradish peroxidase. 1985

R Flink, and J Westman

After electrocoagulation of the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) and injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN), two kinds of changes in fibers and boutons were observed in the dorsolateral part of the thalamic ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL). The axons and boutons from neurons in the DCN demonstrated dark degeneration, while the fibers and synaptic terminals from the LCN-neurons contained the characteristic needle-shaped peroxidase reaction products following incubation with tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Occasionally dark degenerating boutons and boutons with TMB-positive reaction products showed synaptic contact with the same dendritic profiles. After consideration of the possibility of an axoaxonal transfer of the tracer it is concluded that the findings demonstrate convergence of synaptic input both from the DCN and from the LCN on the same postsynaptic VPL neurons. The present results are in accordance with earlier light microscopic and neurophysiological findings. It is also concluded that the ultrastructural technique employed in this study is well suited to reveal convergence of different afferent systems on the same postsynaptic neurons.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008526 Medulla Oblongata The lower portion of the BRAIN STEM. It is inferior to the PONS and anterior to the CEREBELLUM. Medulla oblongata serves as a relay station between the brain and the spinal cord, and contains centers for regulating respiratory, vasomotor, cardiac, and reflex activities. Accessory Cuneate Nucleus,Ambiguous Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus of the Medulla,Arcuate Nucleus-1,External Cuneate Nucleus,Lateral Cuneate Nucleus,Nucleus Ambiguus,Ambiguus, Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus 1,Arcuate Nucleus-1s,Cuneate Nucleus, Accessory,Cuneate Nucleus, External,Cuneate Nucleus, Lateral,Medulla Oblongatas,Nucleus, Accessory Cuneate,Nucleus, Ambiguous,Nucleus, External Cuneate,Nucleus, Lateral Cuneate
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
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
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
D013116 Spinal Cord A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER. Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords
D013787 Thalamic Nuclei Several groups of nuclei in the thalamus that serve as the major relay centers for sensory impulses in the brain. Nuclei, Thalamic

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