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Somatotopical organization of the projection from the nucleus interpositus anterior of the cerebellum to the red nucleus. An experimental study in the cat with silver impregnation methods

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Summary

Small lesions were done in various areas of the nucleus interpositus anterior (NIA) of the cerebellum, and the distribution of terminal degeneration was studied in the red nucleus with the methods of Nauta and Glees. The NIA projects to the contralateral red nucleus. Two principles of organization can be demonstrated in the projection: a caudorostral arrangement in the red nucleus corresponds to a mediolateral organization in the NIA and a mediolateral arrangement in the red nucleus corresponds to a caudorostral organization of the NIA. The latter distribution coincides with the somatotopical areas of the red nucleus defined by Pompeiano and Brodal (1957). Special attention has been paid to the questions of the subdivision of the cerebellar nuclei and of the course of the fibres issuing from the nuclei in the cerebellar hilus. The present findings on the projection of the NIA to the red nucleus have been correlated with recent anatomical and physiological data on the cerebellum and the red nucleus.

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Abbreviations

BC:

brachium conjunctivum

c:

caudal

d:

dorsal

Ext:

extensor effects

Flex:

flexor effects

forel:

forelimb area

HB:

hook-bundle

Hb. P:

habenulo-peduncular tract

hindl:

hindlimb area

I:

lateral

m:

medial

NF:

nucleus fastigii or medialis

NIA:

nucleus interpositus anterior

NIP:

nucleus interpositus posterior

NL:

nucleus lateralis

r:

rostral

v:

ventral

III:

root fibres of the third nerve

IV:

fourth ventricle

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Author notes

  1. Jacques Courville M.D.

    Present address: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Department of Anatomy, Mc-Gill University, Montreal

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Jacques Courville M.D.

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  1. Jacques Courville M.D.
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Fellow of the Canadian Medical Research Council.

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Courville, J. Somatotopical organization of the projection from the nucleus interpositus anterior of the cerebellum to the red nucleus. An experimental study in the cat with silver impregnation methods. Exp Brain Res 2, 191–215 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236713

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236713

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