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Arrangement of neurons in the medullary reticular formation and raphe nuclei projecting to thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments of the spinal cord in the cat

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Summary

The distribution of neurons in the medullary reticular formation and raphe nuclei projecting to thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments was studied, using the technique of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), alone or in combination with nuclear yellow (NY). Retrogradely labeled cells were observed in the lateral tegmental field (FTL), paramedian reticular nucleus, magnocellular reticular nucleus (Mc), in the gigantocellular nucleus (Gc), lateral reticular nucleus (LR), lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (PGL), rostral ventrolateral medullary reticular formation (RVR), as well as in the medullary raphe nuclei following the injection of the tracer substance(s) into various levels of the spinal cord. The FTL, the ventral portion of the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRv), Mc, LR, PGL and the raphe nuclei were found to project to thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. This projection was bilateral; the contralaterally projecting fibers crossed the midline at or near their termination site. The dorsal portion of the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRd), Gc and the RVR projected mainly to thoracic segments. This projection was unilateral. Experiments in which the HRP-injection was combined with lesion of the spinal cord showed that some descending raphe-spinal axons coursed presumably alongside the central canal. Experiments with two tracer substances suggested that some reticulo and raphe-spinal neurons had axon collaterals terminating both in thoracic and sacral spinal segments.

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Abbreviations

CC :

Central Canal

FTL :

Lateral Tegmental Field

Gc :

Gigantocellular Nucleus

IO :

Inferior Olive

LR :

Lateral Reticular Nucleus

Mc :

Magnocellular Reticular Nucleus

Nc :

Cunetae Nucleus

Ng :

Gracile Nucleus

P :

Pyramidal Tract

PGL :

Lateral Paragigantocellular Nucleus

PRd :

Paramedian Reticular Nucleus,dorsal portion

PRv :

Paramedian Reticular Nucleus, ventral portion

RB :

Restiform Body

Ro :

Nucleus Raphe Obscurus

Rm :

Nucleus Raphe Magnus

Rpa :

Nucleus Raphe Pallidus

RVR :

Rostral Ventrolateral Medullary Reticular Formation

TSp5 :

Tractus Spinalis Nervi Trigemini

V4 :

Fourth Ventricle

12N:

Hypoglossal Nerve

A B C D E and F:

correspond to levels Fr 16.0 Fr 14.7 Fr 12.7 Fr 11.6 Fr 10.0 and Fr 9.2 posterior to the frontal zero

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  1. Second Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University Medical School, Tüzoltó-utca 58, 1094, Budapest, Hungary

    Mária Kausz

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  1. Mária Kausz
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Kausz, M. Arrangement of neurons in the medullary reticular formation and raphe nuclei projecting to thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments of the spinal cord in the cat. Anat Embryol 183, 151–163 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174396

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