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Fiber dissection and 3-tesla diffusion tensor tractography of the superior cerebellar peduncle in the human brain: emphasize on the cerebello-hypthalamic fibers

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Abstract

Experimental studies in various species using tract-tracing techniques showed clear evidence of the presence of cerebello-hypothalamic projections. However, these connections were not clearly described in humans. In the present study we aimed to describe the direct cerebello-hypothalamic connections within the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) using fiber dissection techniques on cadaveric brains and diffusion tensor tractography (DTI) in healthy adults. Fiber dissection was performed in a stepwise manner from lateral to medial on 6 cerebral hemispheres. The gray matter was decorticate and fiber tracts were revealed. The SCP was exposed and the fibers were traced distally using wooden spatulas. The MRI examinations were performed in seven cases using 3-tesla 3T unit. The direct cerebello-hyothalamic pathways were exposed using high-spatial-resolution DTI. The present study using both fiber dissection and DTI in adult human showed direct cerebello-hypothalamic fibers within the SCP. The SCP fibers course anterolateral to the cerebral aqueduct reaching the level of the red nucleus of the midbrain. The majority of the fibers crosses over and reached the contralateral diencephalic structures and some of these fibers terminated at the contralateral anterior hypothalamic area. Some of the uncrossed SCP fibers reached the ipsilateral diencephalic structures and terminated at the ipsilateral posterior hypothalamic area. We further reported the close relationship of the SCP with the MCP, lateral lemniscus, red nucleus and substantia nigra. In the DTI evaluations of the SCP we exposed unilateral left cerebello-hypothalamic fibers in five cases and bilateral cerebello-hypothalamic fibers in two cases. The present study demonstrates the direct cerebello-hypothalamic connections within the SCP for the first time using fiber dissection and DTI technique in the human brain. The detailed knowledge of the cerebello-hypothalamic fibers can outline the unexplained deficit that may occur during regional surgery.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Hakan Örer for the descriptive illustration which made the manuscript understandable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Koç University, Sarıyer, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey

    Safiye Çavdar

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Bakırköy Ruh ve Sinir Hastanesi, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayşegül Esen Aydın

  3. Radiology Department, City Hospital, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey

    Oktay Algin

  4. National MR Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Oktay Algin

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Evren Aydoğmuş

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  1. Safiye Çavdar
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  2. Ayşegül Esen Aydın
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  3. Oktay Algin
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  4. Evren Aydoğmuş
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Correspondence to Safiye Çavdar.

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All cadavers used in this study was donated for medical student’s dissections and research purposes. All procedures performed in studies were approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Koç University.

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Çavdar, S., Esen Aydın, A., Algin, O. et al. Fiber dissection and 3-tesla diffusion tensor tractography of the superior cerebellar peduncle in the human brain: emphasize on the cerebello-hypthalamic fibers. Brain Struct Funct 225, 121–128 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-019-01985-8

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