Anatomy and Embryology

, Volume 161, Issue 2, pp 169–195 | Cite as

Mapping of monoamine neurones and fibres in the cat lower brainstem and spinal cord

  • Karl J. Lackner
Article
Accepted:

Summary

The localization of monoaminergic neurones in the medulla oblongata and the pons, and the distribution of catecholaminergic fibres in the spinal cord of the cat were investigated by means of formaldehyde-induced (FIF) or glyoxylic-acid-induced (GIF) fluorescence. Four groups of catecholamine (CA)-containing neurones were found in the following regions: (1) in the ventrolateral medulla oblongata within and adjacent to the lateral reticular nucleus, beginning slightly rostral to the medullo-spinal junction and extending rostrally to the cranial third of the inferior olive; (2) in the commissural, medial and lateral nucleus of the solitary tract; (3) cranial to the first group, closely adjacent to the facial nucleus and the superior olive; and (4) in the dorsolateral pons distributed to different nuclei, namely the nucleus coeruleus and subcoeruleus, the Koelliker-Fuse nucleus, and the medial and lateral parabrachial nuclei. The indoleamine (IA)-containing cell bodies were in general confined to the raphe nuclei, namely the nucleus raphe pallidus, nucleus raphe obscurus, nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus raphe pontis, nucleus raphe dorsalis and the central superior nucleus. A few IA-neurones were located more laterally, especially dorsal and lateral of the cranial half of the inferior olive, around the root of the hypoglossal nerve, in the lateral tegmental field and the pontine central gray. In the spinal cord most CA-fibres were found in the intermediolateral cell column. Another dense accumulation of CA-fibres was located dorsally and laterally of the central canal. The ventral and dorsal horns also contained CA-nervefibres which were slightly more numerous in the sacral spinal cord than in the more rostral parts of the spinal cord.

Key words

Monoamines Histofluorescence Brainstem Spinal cord Cat 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1980

Authors and Affiliations

  • Karl J. Lackner
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of AnatomyUniversity of HeidelbergHeidelbergFederal Republic of Germany
  2. 2.I. Physiologisches InstitutUniversity of HeidelbergHeidelbergFederal Republic of Germany

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