Connexions between hair follicle afferent fibres and spinocervical tract neurones in the cat: the synthesis of receptive fields. 1982

A G Brown, and R Noble

1. Relationships between the terminal arborizations of hair follicle afferent fibres and dendritic trees of spinocervical tract (s.c.t.) neurones were studied using intra-axonal and intracellular injections of horseradish peroxidase in chloralose-anaesthetized, paralysed cats. 2. Seventeen afferent-neurone pairs were successfully stained and their receptive fields determined. Ten of the pairs had s.c.t. neurones with a field containing that of the hair follicle afferent and seven pairs had separate fields on the hind limb. 3. Where the afferent fibre's field was outside the neurone's field there were no indications of synaptic contacts between the two neuronal elements. 4. Synaptic contacts were always observed (at the light microscope level) for the ten pairs with the hair afferent's receptive field contained within the s.c.t. cell's field. Contacts were always made by the branches of only a single collateral from the hair follicle afferent fibre. The numbers and locations of synaptic contacts were related to the relative positions of the receptive field: where the hair follicle afferent's field was centrally placed there were many (forty to sixty) contacts on proximal dendrites; where the hair follicle afferent's field was peripherally placed in the s.c.t. cell's receptive field there were few contacts (two to thirteen) and these were peripherally placed on the dendritic tree. Where the primary afferent fibre had a centrally placed field contacts upon dendritic spines were observed. 5. The results are discussed in terms of the synthesis of receptive fields and the organization of neuronal connexions within the mammalian spinal cord.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
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
D006197 Hair A filament-like structure consisting of a shaft which projects to the surface of the SKIN from a root which is softer than the shaft and lodges in the cavity of a HAIR FOLLICLE. It is found on most surfaces of the body. Fetal Hair,Hair, Fetal,Lanugo,Fetal Hairs,Hairs,Hairs, Fetal
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
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
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
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse

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