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The pontine projection to the cerebellar anterior lobe. An experimental study in the cat with retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

Experimental Brain Research volume 29, pages 233–248 (1977)Cite this article

Summary

By use of the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) the projection to the anterior lobe from the pontine nuclei was mapped in detail. In 18 cats 0.1–0.5 gml of a,50% suspension of Sigma VI or Serva HRP was injected in the anterior lobe under visual guidance or stereotactically. The main findings are as follows:

  1. 1.

    The projection to the vermis of the anterior lobe is bilateral with a contralateral preponderance (about 3/4).

  2. 2.

    The vermis of the anterior lobe receives afferents from a restricted, laterally located region in the caudal part of the pons. Dorsal parts of this region project anteriorly (lobules I–III), ventral parts posteriorly (lobulus V).

  3. 3.

    The projection to the intermediate-lateral part is almost exclusively contralateral and is considerably heavier than the projection to the vermis.

  4. 4.

    The intermediate-lateral part receives afferents from two pontine regions. One is located laterally and coincides caudally with the region projecting to the vermis. The other is located medially and projects only sparsely to the vermis.

  5. 5.

    Within the projection from the lateral pontine region to the intermediate part there is a somatotopical pattern corresponding to that within the projection to the vermis. Within the medial pontine region the somatotopical pattern is less clear, but there is a tendency for cells projecting to lobules III–IV to be located more ventrolaterally than those sending their fibres to lobulus V.

  6. 6.

    The pontine regions projecting to the anterior lobe seem to coincide closely with those receiving fibres from the primary sensorimotor cortex, particularly the lateral part of the anterior sigmoid gyrus and medial part of the posterior sigmoid gyrus, as determined previously (P. Brodal, 1968a).

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Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Karl Johansgt. 47, 1, Oslo, Norway

    P. Brodal & F. Walberg

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  1. P. Brodal
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  2. F. Walberg
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Brodal, P., Walberg, F. The pontine projection to the cerebellar anterior lobe. An experimental study in the cat with retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Exp Brain Res 29, 233–248 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237044

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Key words

  • Pons
  • Cerebellum
  • Pontocerebellar projection
  • HRP method
  • Cat