Summary
The distribution of neurons projecting to the spinal cord and dorsal column nuclear complex was investigated in the mesodiencephalic regions of the lesser hedgehog-tenrec, Echinops telfairi (Insectivora) by using the retrograde flow technique. While only few neurons projected to the dorsal column nuclear complex, numerous cells were found to give rise to spinal projections. Rubro-spinal neurons of various sizes were distributed over the entire rostrocaudal extent of the contra-lateral nucleus; a few neurons were also located ipsilaterally. Unlike that of the opossum, the projection appeared to be somatotopically organised. Interstitio-spinal neurons were differentiated into several subpopulations according to their location and laterality of projection. In the ipsilateral periventricular grey, in addition, there was a distinct population of cells possibly corresponding to the nucleus of Darkschewitsch. The mesencephalic central grey contained relatively few labeled neurons, the great majority of them being mesencephalic trigeminal, ectopic cuneiform or midline cells. Labeled cuneiform and midline cells, on the other hand, were quite numerous, extending both from a level just caudal to the trochlear nucleus to levels far beyond the rostral tip of the somatic oculomotor nucleus. The discrepancy between the poorly differentiated oculomotor nuclei and the apparently well-developed Edinger-Westphal complex is discussed. Hypothalamo-spinal neurons were essentially restricted to dorsal regions: the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PAV), the dorso-medial (DmHy) and dorso-intermediate cell groups as well as the lateral hypothalamic zone. The latter two cell groups were bilaterally labeled, while the labeled neurons in DmHy and PAV were located predominantly ipsilaterally. Labeled neurons in the amygdala, colliculus superior and mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus were only found following cervical injections; all other mentioned areas and the posterior commissure complex projected to, at least, midthoracic level.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- Amy :
-
amygdala
- aq :
-
aqueductus Silvii
- Cnf :
-
regio cuneiformis
- CoI :
-
colliculus inferior
- CoS :
-
colliculus superior
- cp :
-
cerebral peduncle
- cmp :
-
posterior commissure
- DC :
-
dorsal column nuclear complex
- DiHy :
-
dorso-intermediate hypothalamic area
- DmHy :
-
dorso-medial hypothalamic area
- Ec :
-
Echinops
- GC :
-
griseum centrale
- GCd :
-
cell group “d” of GC
- GL :
-
n. geniculatus lateralis
- GM :
-
n. geniculatus medialis
- Ipd :
-
n. interpeduncularis
- IsC-G :
-
interstitial cell populations C, D, E, F, G
- LHy :
-
lateral hypothalamic area
- ML :
-
midline band
- oc :
-
optic chiasma
- PAV :
-
n. paraventricularis hypothalami
- PCm :
-
posterior commissure complex
- RaD :
-
n. raphe dorsalis
- RCh :
-
retrochiasmatic region
- rfl :
-
fasciculus retroflexus
- Ru :
-
n. ruber
- Se :
-
Setifer
- SN :
-
substantia nigra
- To :
-
n. trochlearis
- TrMe :
-
n. trigemini mesencephalicus
- ZI :
-
Zona incerta
References
Akert K, Glicksman MA, Lang W, Grob P, Huber A (1980) The Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the monkey. A retrograde tracer study. Brain Res 184:494–498
Basbaum AI, Fields HL (1979) The origin of descending pathways in the dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord of the cat and rat: further studies on the anatomy of pain modulation. J Comp Neurol 187:513–532
Bauchot R, Stephan H (1970) Morphologie comparée de l'encéphale des insectivores Tenrecidae. Mammalia 34:514–541
Bernard JF, Peschanski M, Besson JM (1989) Afferents and efferents of the rat cuneiformis nucleus: an anatomical study with reference to pain transmission. Brain Res 490:181–186
Burde RM, Parelman JJ, Luskin M (1982) Lack of unity of Edinger-Westphal nucleus projections to the ciliary ganglion and spinal cord: a double-labeling approach. Brain Res 249:379–382
Büttner-Ennever JA, Büttner U (1988) The reticular formation. In: Büttner-Ennever JA (ed) Neuroanatomy of the oculomotor system, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 119–176
Cabot JB, Reiner A, Bogan N (1982) Avian bulbospinal pathways: anterograde and retrograde studies of cells of origin, funicular trajectories and laminar terminations. Prog Brain Res 57:79–108
Castiglioni AJ, Gallaway MC, Coulter JD (1978) Spinal projections from the midbrain in monkey. J Comp Neurol 178:329–346
Cechetto DF, Saper CB (1988) Neurochemical organization of the hypothalamic projection to the spinal cord in the rat. J Comp Neurol 272:579–604
Crompton AW, Taylor CR, Jagger JA (1978) Evolution of homeothermy in mammals. Nature 272:333–336
Crutcher KA, Humbertson AOJ, Martin GF (1978) The origin of brainstem-spinal pathways in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Studies using the horseradish peroxidase method. J Comp Neurol 179:169–194
Edwards SB (1980) The deep cell layers of the superior colliculus: their characteristics and structural organization. In: Hobson JA, Brazier MAB (eds) The reticular formation revisited, Raven Press, New York, Int Brain Res Org Monogr Ser vol 6:193–209
Eisenberg JF (1981) The relative size of the mammalian brain. In: Eisenberg JF (ed) The mammalian radiations, University Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 275–283
Eisenberg JF, Gould E (1970) The tenrecs: A study in mammalian behavior and evolution. Smithon Contrib Zool 27:1–137
Fukushima K (1987) The interstitial nucleus of Cajal and its role in the control of movements of head and eyes. Prog Neurobiol 29:107–192
Garcia-Rill E (1986) The basal ganglia and the locomotor regions. Brain Res Rev 11:47–64
Godfrey GK, Oliver WLR (1978) The reproduction and development of the pigmy hedgehog tenrec, Echinops telfairi. Dodo J Jersey Wildl Preserv Trust 15:38–51
Graybiel AM, Hartwieg EA (1974) Some afferent connections of the oculomotor complex in the cat: an experimental study with tracer techniques. Brain Res 81:543–551
Grob P, Büttner-Ennever J, Lang W, Akert K, Fäh A (1982) A comparison of the retrograde tracer properties of [125I] wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) with HRP after injection into the corpus callosum. Brain Res 236:193–198
Hayes NL, Rustioni A (1981) Descending projections from brainstem and sensorimotor cortex to spinal enlargements in the cat. Single and double retrograde tracer studies. Exp Brain Res 41:89–107
Holstege G (1987a) Anatomical evidence for an ipsilateral rubrospinal pathway and for direct rubrospinal projections to motoneurons in the cat. Neurosci Lett 74:269–274
Holstege G (1987b) Some anatomical observations on the projections from the hypothalamus to brainstem and spinal cord: an HRP and autoradiographic tracing study in the cat. J Comp Neurol 260:98–126
Holstege G (1988) Brainstem-spinal cord projections in the cat, related to control of head and axial movements. In: BüttnerEnnever J (ed) Neuroanatomy of the oculomotor system, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 431–470
Holstege G, Cowie RJ (1989) Projections from the rostral mesencephalic reticular formation to the spinal cord. An HRP and autoradiographic tracing study in the cat. Exp Brain Res 75:265–279
Holstege G, Tan J (1988) Projections from the red nucleus and surrounding areas to the brainstem and spinal cord in the rat. An HRP and autoradiographical tracing study. Behav Brain Res 28:33–58
Hosoya Y (1980) The distribution of spinal projection neurons in the hypothalamus of the rat, studied with the HRP method Exp Brain Res 40:79–87
Huerta MF, Harting JK (1982) Tectal control of spinal activity: neuroanatomical demonstration of pathways connecting the superior colliculus with the cervical spinal cord grey. Prog Brain Res 57:293–328
Huisman AM, Kuypers HGJM, Verburgh CA (1982) Differences in collateralization of the descending spinal pathways from the red nucleus and other brain stem cell groups in cat and monkey. Prog Brain Res 57:186–217
Itoh K, Konishi A, Nomura S, Mizuno N, Nakamura Y, Sugimoto T (1979) Application of coupled oxidation reaction to electron microscopic demonstration of horseradish peroxidase: cobal-tglucose oxidase method. Brain Res 175:341–346
Kneisley LW, Biber MP, LaVail JH (1978) A study of the origin of brain stem projections to monkey spinal cord using the retrograde transport method. Exp Neurol 60:116–139
Künzle H (1988) Retinofugal projections in hedgehog-tenrecs (Echinops telfairi and Setifer setosus). Anat Embryol 178:77–93
Künzle H (1991) Mesencephalic projections to the spinal cord in the hedgehog-tenrec, Echinops telfairi. In: Elsner N, Penzlin H (eds) Synapse — Transmission — Modulation, Proc Göttinger Neurobiol Conf 19:73
Langer T, Kaneko CRS (1984) Brainstem afferents to the omnipause region in the cat: a horseradish peroxidase study. J Comp Neurol 230:444–458
Leong SK, Shieh JY, Wong WC (1984) Localizing spinal-cord-projecting neurons in adult albino rats. J Comp Neurol 228:1–17
Loewy AD, Saper CB (1978) Edinger-Westphal nucleus: projections to the brainstem and spinal cord in the cat. Brain Res 150:1–27
Luiten PGM, ter Horst GJ, Steffens AB (1987) The hypothalamus, intrinsic connections and outflow pathways to the endocrine system in relation to the control of feeding and metabolism. Prog Neurobiol 28:1–54
Maciewicz R, Phipps BS, Grenier J, Poletti CE (1984) EdingerWestphal nucleus: cholecystokinin immunocytochemistry and projections to spinal cord and trigeminal nucleus in the cat. Brain Res 299:139–145
Mantyh PW, Peschanski M (1982) Spinal projections from the periaqueductal grey and dorsal raphe in the rat, cat and monkey. Neuroscience 7:2769–2776
Martin GF, Cabana T, Humbertson AOJ (1981) Evidence for a lack of distinct rubrospinal somatotopy in the North American opossum and for collateral innervation of the cervical and lumbar enlargements by single rubral neurons. J Comp Neurol 201:255–263
Martin GF, Cabana T, Walker R (1983) Anatomical demonstration of the location and collateralization of rubral neurons which project to the spinal cord, lateral brainstem and inferior olive. Brain Behav Evol 23:93–109
Matesz C (1981) Peripheral and central distribution of fibers of the mesencephalic trigeminal root in the rat. Neurosci Lett 27:13–18
Matsushita M, Okado N, Ikeda M, Hosoya Y (1981) Descending projections from the spinal and mesencephalic nuclei of the trigeminal nerve to the spinal cord in the cat. A study with the horseradish peroxidase technique. J Comp Neurol 196:173–188
Mesulam MM (1978) Tetramethylbenzidine for horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: A non-carcinogenic blue reaction product with superior sensitivity. J Histochem Cytochem 26:106–117
Michaloudi H, Dinopoulos A, Karamanlidis AN, Papadopoulos GC, Antonopoulos J (1988) Cortical and brain stem projections to the spinal cord of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). A horseradish peroxidase study. Anat Embryol 178:259–270
Mizuno N, Takahashi O, Satoda T, Matsushima R (1985) Amygdalospinal projections in the macaque monkey. Neurosci Lett 53:327–330
Murray EA, Coulter JD (1982) Organization of tectospinal neurons in the cat and rat superior colliculus. Brain Res 243:201–214
Murray HM, Gurule ME (1979) Origin of the rubrospinal tract of the rat. Neurosci Lett 14:19–23
Murray HM, Haines DE, Cole I (1976) The rubrospinal tract of the tree shrew (Tupaiaglis). Brain Res 116:317–322
Newman DB (1985) Distinguishing rat brainstem reticulo-spinal nuclei by their neuronal morphology. II. Pontine and mesencephalic nuclei. J Hirnforsch 26:385–418
Nudo RJ, Masterton RB (1988) Descending pathways to the spinal cord: A comparative study of 22 mammals. J Comp Neurol 277:53–79
Nudo RJ, Masterton RB (1989) Descending pathways to the spinal cord: II. Quantitative study of the tectospinal tract in 23 mammals. J Comp Neurol 286:96–120
Okado N, Oppenheim RW (1985) The onset and development of descending pathways to the spinal cord in the chick embryo. J Comp Neurol 232:143–161
Paxinos G, Watson C (1982) The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates. Academic Press, London New York
Pindzola RR, Ho RH, Martin GF (1988) Catecholaminergic innervation of the spinal cord in the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana. Brain Behav Evol 32:281–292
Poduschka W (1974) Das Paarungsverhalten des großen Igel-Tenrek (Setifer setosus, Froriep 1806) und die Frage des pylogenetischen Alters einiger Paarungseinzelheiten. Z Tierpsychiol 34:345–358
Rapisarda C, Simonelli G (1981) The distribution of descending brain stem projections to spinal cord in the guinea pig. A horseradish peroxidase study. Neurosci Lett 23:281–286
Rehkämper G, Stephan H, Poduschka W (1986) The brain of Geogale aurita Milne-Edwards and Grandidier 1872 (Tenrecidae, Insectivora). J Hirnforsch 27:391–399
Rhoades RW, Croce della DR (1980) Cells of origin of the tectospinal tract in golden hamster: an anatomical and electrophysiological investigation. Exp Neurol 67:163–180
Roste GK, Dietrichs E (1988) Cerebellar cortical and nuclear afferents from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the cat. Anat Embryol 178:59–65
Ruggiero DA, Ross CA, Kumada M, Reis DJ (1982) Reevaluation of projections from the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus to the medulla and spinal cord: new projections. A combined retrograde and anterograde horseradish peroxidase study. J Comp Neurol 206:278–292
Rutherford JG, Anderson WA, Gwyn DG (1984) A reevaluation of midbrain and diencephalic projections to the inferior olive in the rat with particular reference to the rubro-olivary pathway. J Comp Neurol 229:285–300
Sandrew BB, Edwards DL, Poletti CE, Foote WE (1986) Amygdalospinal projections in the cat. Brain Res 373:235–239
Saper CB, Loewy AD, Swanson LW, Cowan WM (1976) Direct hypothalamo-autonomic connections. Brain Res 117:305–312
Satoh K (1979) The origin of reticulospinal fibers in the rat: An HRP study. J Hirnforsch 20:313–332
Schwanzel-Fukuda M, Morrell JT, Pfaff W (1984) Localization of forebrain neurons which project directly to the medulla and spinal cord of the rat by retrograde tracing with wheat germ agglutinin. J Comp Neurol 226:1–20
Sekiya H, Kawamura K, Ishikawa S (1984) Projections from the Edinger-Westphal complex of monkeys as studied by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. Arch Ital Biol 122:311–319
Shieh JY, Leong SK, Wong WC (1983) Origin of the rubrospinal tract in neonatal, developing, and mature rats. J Comp Neurol 214:79–86
Skagerberg G, Lindvall O (1985) Organization of diencephalic dopamine neurons projecting to the spinal cord in the rat. Brain Res 342:340–351
Spence JS, Saint-Cyr JA (1988) Comparative topography of projections from the mesodiencephalic junction to the inferior olive, vestibular nuclei, and upper cervical cord in the cat. J Comp Neurol 268:357–374
Steiger HJ, Büttner-Ennever J (1978) Relationship between motoneurons and interneurons in the abducens nucleus: A double retrograde tracer study in the cat. Brain Res 148:181–188
Stephan H, Baron G, Frahm HD (1991) Insectivora. Comparative Brain Res Mammals, vol 1, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York London Paris Tokyo Hong Kong Barcelona
Stoeckel K, Schwab M, Thoenen H (1977) Role of gangliosides in the uptake and retrograde axonal transport of cholera and tetanus toxin as compared to nerve growth factor and wheat germ agglutinin. Brain Res 132:273–285
Sugimoto T, Itoh K, Mizuno N (1978) Direct projections from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus to the cerebellum and spinal cord in the cat: An HRP study. Neurosci Lett 9:17–22
Takada M, Li ZK, Hattori T (1987) Long descending direct projection from the basal ganglia to the spinal cord: a revival of the extrapyramidal concept. Brain Res 436:129–135
Veazey RB, Severin CM (1980) Efferent projections of the deep mesencephalic nucleus (pars medialis) in the rat. J Comp Neurol 190:245–258
Walberg F, Dietrichs E, Nordby T (1984) The medullary projection from the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. An experimental study with comments on the intrinsic trigeminal connections. Exp Brain Res 56:377–383
Weinberg RJ, Rustioni A (1989) Brainstem projections to the cuneate nucleus. J Comp Neurol 282:142–156
Wild JM, Cabot JB, Cohen DH, Karten HJ (1979) Origin, course and terminations of the rubrospinal tract in the pigeon (Columba livia). J Comp Neurol 187:639–654
Zemlan FP, Behbehami MM (1984) Afferent projections to the nucleus cuneiformis in the rat. Neurosci Lett 52:103–111
Zuk A, Gwyn DG, Rutherford JG (1982) Cytoarchitecture, neuronal morphology and some efferent connections of the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) in the cat. J Comp Neurol 212:278–292
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Künzle, H. Meso-diencephalic regions projecting to spinal cord and dorsal column nuclear complex in the hedgehog-tenrec, Echinops telfairi . Anat Embryol 185, 57–68 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213601
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213601