The cerebellofugal projections in the brachium conjunctivum of the rat. II. The ipsilateral and contralateral descending pathways. 1978

R L Faull
Department of Anatomy, University of Auckland Medical School, Auckland, New Zealand.

The cerebellofugal projections in the ipsilateral and contralateral descending pathways of the brachium conjunctivum (B.C.) in the rat have been investigated in 22 animals using the Fink-Heimer technique to demonstrate the axonal degeneration resulting from complete B.C. lesions (6), partial B.C. lesions (14) and control lesions dorsal to the B.C. (2). The incidental degeneration resulting from the concomitant involvement of the structures surrounding the B.C. is accounted for in terms of known fiber pathways and from the results in the control experiments. This study confirms Ramón y Cajal's ('03) original observation that cerebellofugal fibers in the B.C. project caudally throughout the length of the hindbrain via both ipsilateral and contralateral descending pathways. The fibers forming the ipsilateral descending pathway proceed ventrally from the B.C. at the level of the trigeminal motor nucleus, turn caudally and terminate within nucleus reticularis parvocellularis (Rpa). In particular, fibers within this pathway terminate densely in two cytoarchitecturally distinct Rpa subnuclei--nucleus "k" (Meessen and Olszewski, '49) and a caudal linear subnucleus--which project to the cerebellum (Faull, '77). The contralateral descending pathway (B.C.de) roceeds caudally from the decussation of the B.C. within the ventromedial region of the magnocellular nuclei of the reticular formation of the pons and medulla. Cerebellofugal fibers of the B.C.de terminate in a distinctive pattern within precerebellar brainstem nuclei: densely throughout the middle third of nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis; in a longitudinal zone of each of the three pontine gray subnuclei; in the principal and dorsal accessory nuclei of the inferior olive; and sparsely within nucleus reticularis paramedianus. Fibers in the B.C.de also terminate within the magnocellular nuclei of the reticular formation, principally the nuclei reticularis pontis oralis and caudalis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008636 Mesencephalon The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems. Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
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
D002529 Cerebellar Nuclei Four clusters of neurons located deep within the WHITE MATTER of the CEREBELLUM, which are the nucleus dentatus, nucleus emboliformis, nucleus globosus, and nucleus fastigii. Dentate Nucleus,Nucleus Dentatus,Nucleus Emboliformis,Nucleus Fastigii,Nucleus Globosus,Amiculum of the Dentate Nucleus,Anterior Interposed Nucleus,Anterior Interpositus Nucleus,Central Nuclei,Deep Cerebellar Nuclei,Dentate Cerebellar Nucleus,Fastigial Cerebellar Nucleus,Fastigial Nucleus,Intracerebellar Nuclei,Lateral Cerebellar Nucleus,Medial Cerebellar Nucleus,Central Nucleus,Cerebellar Nuclei, Deep,Cerebellar Nucleus,Cerebellar Nucleus, Deep,Cerebellar Nucleus, Dentate,Cerebellar Nucleus, Fastigial,Cerebellar Nucleus, Lateral,Cerebellar Nucleus, Medial,Deep Cerebellar Nucleus,Emboliformis, Nucleus,Fastigii, Nucleus,Globosus, Nucleus,Interposed Nucleus, Anterior,Interpositus Nucleus, Anterior,Intracerebellar Nucleus,Nuclei, Central,Nuclei, Cerebellar,Nuclei, Deep Cerebellar,Nuclei, Intracerebellar,Nucleus Fastigius,Nucleus, Anterior Interposed,Nucleus, Anterior Interpositus,Nucleus, Central,Nucleus, Cerebellar,Nucleus, Deep Cerebellar,Nucleus, Dentate,Nucleus, Dentate Cerebellar,Nucleus, Fastigial,Nucleus, Fastigial Cerebellar,Nucleus, Intracerebellar,Nucleus, Lateral Cerebellar,Nucleus, Medial Cerebellar
D002552 Cerebral Ventricles Four CSF-filled (see CEREBROSPINAL FLUID) cavities within the cerebral hemispheres (LATERAL VENTRICLES), in the midline (THIRD VENTRICLE) and within the PONS and MEDULLA OBLONGATA (FOURTH VENTRICLE). Foramen of Monro,Cerebral Ventricular System,Cerebral Ventricle,Cerebral Ventricular Systems,Monro Foramen,System, Cerebral Ventricular,Systems, Cerebral Ventricular,Ventricle, Cerebral,Ventricles, Cerebral,Ventricular System, Cerebral,Ventricular Systems, Cerebral
D004027 Diencephalon The paired caudal parts of the PROSENCEPHALON from which the THALAMUS; HYPOTHALAMUS; EPITHALAMUS; and SUBTHALAMUS are derived. Interbrain,Interbrains
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
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
D000882 Haplorhini A suborder of PRIMATES consisting of six families: CEBIDAE (some New World monkeys), ATELIDAE (some New World monkeys), CERCOPITHECIDAE (Old World monkeys), HYLOBATIDAE (gibbons and siamangs), CALLITRICHINAE (marmosets and tamarins), and HOMINIDAE (humans and great apes). Anthropoidea,Monkeys,Anthropoids,Monkey

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