Skip to main content

Somatotopic termination of spinal afferents to the feline lateral cervical nucleus

Experimental Brain Research volume 57, pages 576–584 (1985)Cite this article

Summary

The labelling pattern of the feline lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) was investigated after pressure injections of lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase into cervical, thoracic or lumbar segments of the spinal cord. Sixteen cats received a 5–8 nl injection staining large parts of mainly the ipsilateral grey matter of a single segment. Light microscopic examination of frozen sections reacted with tetramethylbenzidine showed a somatotopic organization in the LCN. Rostral segments of the spinal cord projected mainly to rostroventral and medial parts of the ipsilateral LCN, while more caudally located segments projected to more dorsocaudal and lateral parts of the nucleus. Minor contralateral labelling with a similar somatotopic arrangement was seen in animals given cervical and lumbar injections. No significant labelling was found in the LCN of three control animals, the segmental injections of which were engaged mainly into the ipsilateral dorsal columns and the dorsolateral funiculus. Ultrastructural analysis in two animals which received multiple cervical or lumbar injections showed that about 70% of the peroxidase-positive structures in the LCN were boutons and the rest small myelinated axons. The precise termination pattern of ascending afferents to the LCN is compatible with the somatotopic organization of the other relay centres in the spino-cervicothalamic pathway.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Ahlsén G (1981) Retrograde labelling of retinogeniculate neurones in the cat by HRP uptake from diffuse injection zone. Brain Res 223: 374–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Basbaum AI, Clanton CH, Fields HL (1976) Opiate and stimulus produced analgesia: functional anatomy of a medullospinal pathway. Proc Nat Acad Sci (Wash) 73: 4685–4688

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal A, Rexed B (1953) Spinal afferents to the lateral cervical nucleus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 98: 179–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal P, Dietrichs E, Bjaalie JG, Nordby T, Walberg F (1983) Is lectin-coupled horseradish peroxidase taken up and transported by undamaged as well as by damaged fibers in the central nervous system? Brain Res 278: 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown AG (1973) Ascending and long spinal pathways: Dorsal columns, spinocervical tract and spinothalamic tract. In: Iggo A (ed) Handbook of Sensory Physiology, Vol II. Somatosensory Systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 315–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown AG, Fyffe REW, Noble R, Rose PK, Snow PJ (1980) The density, distribution and topographical organization of spinocervical tract neurones in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 300: 409–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown AG, House CR, Rose PK, Snow PJ (1976) The morphology of spinocervical tract neurones in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 260: 719–738

    Google Scholar 

  • Brushart TM, Mesulam MM (1980) Transganglionic demonstration of central sensory projections from skin and muscle with HRP-lectin conjugates. Neurosci Lett 17: 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan RN, Trevino DL, Coulter JD, Willis WD (1973) Location and somatotopic organization of the cells of origin of the spino-cervical tract. Exp Brain Res 17: 177–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig AD (1978) Spinal and medullary input to the lateral cervical nucleus. J Comp Neurol 181: 729–744

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig AD, Burton H (1979) The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat: anatomic organization of cervicothalamic neurons. J Comp Neurol 185: 329–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig AD, Tapper DN (1978) Lateral cervical nucleus in the cat: Functional organization and characteristics. J Neurophysiol 41: 1511–1534

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedina L, Gordon G, Lundberg A (1968) The source and mechanisms of inhibition in the lateral cervical nucleus of the cat. Brain Res 11: 694–696

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonatas NK, Harper C, Mizutani T, Gonatas JO (1979) Superior sensitivity of horseradish peroxidase with wheat germ agglutinin for studies of retrograde axonal transport. J Histochem Cytochem 27: 728–734

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon G, Grant G (1982) Dorsolateral spinal afferents to some medullary sensory nuclei. Exp Brain Res 46: 12–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant G (1962) Spinal course and somatotopically localized termination of the spinocerebellar tracts. An experimental study in the cat. Acta Physiol Scand 56 Suppl 193: 1–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant G, Westman J (1969) The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat. IV. A light and electron microscopical study after midbrain lesions with demonstration of indirect Wallerian degeneration at the ultra-structural level. Exp Brain Res 7: 51–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Horrobin DF (1966) The lateral cervical nucleus of the cat: an electrophysiological study. Q J Exp Physiol 51: 351–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam M-M (1978) Tetramethyl benzidine for horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: a non-carcinogenic blue reaction-product with superior sensitivity for visualizing neural afferents and efferents. J Histochem Cytochem 26: 106–117

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam M-M, Rosene DL (1979) Sensitivity in horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: a comparative and quantitative study of nine methods. J Histochem Cytochem 27: 763–773

    Google Scholar 

  • Millar J (1973) The topography and receptive fields of ventroposterolateral thalamic neurons excited by afferents projecting through the dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord. Exp Neurol 41: 303–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugh WW, Kalia M (1982) Differential uptake of peroxidase (HRP) and peroxidase-lectin (HRP-WGA) conjugate injected in the nodose ganglion of the cat. J Histochem Cytochem 30: 887–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosene DL, Mesulam M-M (1978) Fixation variables in horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry. I. The effects of fixation time and perfusion procedures upon enzyme activity. J Histochem Cytochem 26: 28–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Rustioni A (1974) Non-primary afferents to the cuneate nucleus in the brachial dorsal funiculus of the cat. Brain Res 75: 247–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakumoto T, Nagai T, Kimura H, Maeda T (1980) Electron microscopic visualization of tetramethyl benzidine reaction product on horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry. Mol Biol 26: 211–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Schönitzer K, Holländer H (1981) Anterograde tracing of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with the electron microscope using the tetramethyl-benzidine reaction. J Neurosci Methods 4: 373–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Stürmer C, Bielenberg K, Spatz WB (1981) Electron microscopical identification of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine-reacted horseradish peroxidase after retrograde axoplasmic transport. Neurosci Lett 23: 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson BA, Rastad J (1983) Somatotopic termination of spinocervical tract in the feline lateral cervical nucleus. Neurosci Lett Suppl 14: 362

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson BA, Rastad J, Westman J (1983) Neurones in the feline lateral cervical nucleus with a descending projection. Neurosci Lett Suppl 14: 362

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson BA, Rastad J, Westman J (1984) Endogenous peroxidase-like activity in the feline dorsal column nuclei and spinal cord. Exp Brain Res 55: 325–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall PD, Taub A (1962) Four aspects of trigeminal nucleus and a paradox. J Neurophysiol 25: 110–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman J (1968) The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat. I. A Golgi study. Brain Res 10: 352–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman J (1969) The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat. III. An electron microscopical study after transection of spinal afferents. Exp Brain Res 7: 32–50

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Uppsala, Box 571, S-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden

    B. A. Svensson, J. Rastad, J. Westman & M. Wiberg

Authors
  1. B. A. Svensson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Rastad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Westman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Wiberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Svensson, B.A., Rastad, J., Westman, J. et al. Somatotopic termination of spinal afferents to the feline lateral cervical nucleus. Exp Brain Res 57, 576–584 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237844

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237844

Key words

  • Cat
  • Lectin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase
  • Lateral cervical nucleus
  • Spinocervical tract
  • Somatotopic termination