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Direct accessory optic projections to the vestibulo-cerebellum: A possible channel for oculomotor control systems

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Summary

The nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) receives direct retinal projections in all classes of vertebrates. This nucleus is also known as the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract, or as the nucleus ectomamillaris. Following a series of HRP injections into the uvula and flocculonodular lobe of pigeons, both large and small cells of the nBOR were labelled bilaterally with the marker. No significant transport of HRP to nBOR was observed following injections of more rostral folia of the posterior or anterior lobes of the cerebellum. In view of the prominence of the tract from retina to nBOR and the presence of a monosynaptic pathway from nBOR directly to the vestibulo-cerebellum, we suggest this bisynaptic, “lemniscal”, retino-cerebellar channel may be the substrate by which visual stimuli directly trigger oculomotor responses mediated by the vestibulo-cerebellum.

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Abbreviations

BCP :

Brachium conjunctivum cerebellopetale

BCS :

Brachium colliculi superioris

BOR :

Basal optic root

Cb :

Cerebellum

CO :

Chiasma opticum

DBC :

Decussatio brachiorum conjunctivorum

EM :

Nucleus ectomamillaris

Hy :

Hypothalamus

IO :

Nucleus isthmo-opticus

Imc :

Nucleus isthmi, pars magnocellularis

Ipc :

Nucleus isthmi, pars parvocellularis

LMmc :

Nucleus lentiformis mesencephali, pars magnocellularis

LoC :

Locus ceruleus

nIV :

Nucleus nervi trochlearis

OM :

Tractus occipitomesencephalicus

Ov :

Nucleus ovoidalis

pEM :

Nucleus periectomamillaris

pEM1 :

Nucleus periectomamillaris, pars lateralis

PL :

Nucleus pontis lateralis

PT :

Nucleus pretectalis

PV :

Nucleus posteroventralis thalami

Rt :

Nucleus rotundus

SLu :

Nucleus semilunaris

SP :

Nucleus subpretectalis

SpL :

Nucleus spiriformis lateralis

SpM :

Nucleus spiriformis medialis

SRt :

Nucleus subrotundus

SPO :

Nucleus semilunaris, parovoidalis

TeO :

Tectum opticum

ThS :

Dorsal thalamus, pars superior

TrOp :

Tractus opticus

TrOv :

Tractus nuclei ovoidalis

TSM :

Tractus septomesencephalicus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, Maryland, USA

    S. E. Brauth

  2. Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York, 11794, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    H. J. Karten M.D.

Authors
  1. S. E. Brauth
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  2. H. J. Karten M.D.
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Brauth, S.E., Karten, H.J. Direct accessory optic projections to the vestibulo-cerebellum: A possible channel for oculomotor control systems. Exp Brain Res 28, 73–84 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237087

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237087

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