Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Afferent neurons of the hypoglossal nerve of the rat as demonstrated by horseradish peroxidase tracing

  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Cell bodies of sensory neurons of the rat's hypoglossal nerve were demonstrated by the somatopetal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport technique. Labelled perikarya were found within the second and third cervical spinal ganglia and in the vagal sensory ganglia.

After application of HRP to the cut peripheral trunk of the hypoglossal nerve about 200 labelled cell bodies were counted in each animal. The vast majority of the axons from cervical spinal ganglion cells reach the hypoglossal nerve via the descending ramus (N. descendens hypoglossi). However, there may exist an additional pathway, probably via the cervical sympathetic trunk.

Application of HRP to the medial and lateral end branches led to a labelling of much fewer spinal ganglion cells while the number of labelled vagal sensory neurons remained unchanged. Thus, it is suggested that the majority of the cervical afferents of the hypoglossal nerve originates within the extrinsic tongue musculature and the geniohyoid muscle, whereas the vagal afferents may perhaps derive exclusively from the intrinsic muscles.

Histograms of the mean diameters of labelled cell bodies show a predominance of very small perikarya. This contrasts with the diameter distribution of sensory perikarya labelled after HRP application to nerves supplying other skeletal muscles. It is therefore assumed that the afferent component of the hypoglossal nerve is composed mainly of small-calibre axons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barker, D.: The Morphology of Muscle Receptors, in: Muscle Receptors, Handbook of Sensory Physiologie, Vol. III/2, (C.C. Hunt ed.), 1–190, Berlin: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron, D.H.: A note on the course of the proprioceptor fibers from the tongue. Anat. Rec. 66, 11–15 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blom, S.: Afferent influences on tongue muscle activity. Acta physiol. scand. 49 (Suppl. 170), 7–97 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, J.P., Combs, C.M.: Discharge patterns of lingual spindle afferent fibers in the hypoglossal nerve of the rhesus monkey. Exp. Neurol. 21, 105–119 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, J.P., Combs, C.M.: The thalamic projection of hypoglossal afferents in the rhesus monkey. Exp. Neurol. 25, 509–520 (1969a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, J.P., Combs, C.M.: The cerebrocortical projection of hypoglossal afferents. Exp. Neurol. 23, 291–301 (1969b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, J.D.: The sensory component of the hypoglossal nerve in the rabbit. J. Anat. 75, 330–346 (1941)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coggeshall, R.E., Galbraith, S.L.: Categories of axons in mammalian rami communicantes, part II. J. Comp. Neurol. 181, 349–360 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S.: Muscle spindles in the intrinsic muscles of the human tongue. J. Physiol. (London) 122, 193–202 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, S.: Afferent impulses in the hypoglossal nerve on stretching the cat's tongue. J. Physiol. (London) 126, 32 P (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbin, K.B., Harrison, F.: The sensory innervation of the spinal accessory and tongue musculature in the rhesus monkey. Brain 62, 191–197 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dault, S.H., Dale Smith, R.: A quantitative study of the nucleus of the mesencephalic tract of the trigeminal nerve of the cat. Anat. Rec. 165, 79–88 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Downman, C.B.B.: Afferent fibers of the hypoglossal nerve. J. Anat. 73, 387–395 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Egel, R.T., Bowman, J.P., Combs, C.M.: Calibre spectra of the lingual and hypoglossal nerves of the rhesus monkey. J. Comp. Neurol. 134, 163–174 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elfvin, L.-G., Dalsgaard, C.J.: Retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in afferent fibers of the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the guinea pig. Identification of the cells of origin in dorsal root ganglia. Brain Res. 126, 149–153 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, M.J.T., Sachithanandan, S.R.: The structure and source of lingual proprioceptors in the monkey. J. Anat. 128, 523–552 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Froriep, A., Beck, W.: Ueber das Vorkommen dorsaler Hypoglossuswurzeln mit Ganglion, in der Reihe der Säugetiere. Anat. Anz. 10, 688–696 (1895)

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, R.C., Karnovsky, M.J.: The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney: Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J. Histochem, Cytochem. 14, 291–302 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruber, H., Mayr, R., Zenker, W.: Quantitative Untersuchungen an peripheren Nerven. Verh. Anat. Ges. 67, 427–429 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, J., Widén, L.: Afferent fibers in the hypoglossal nerve of cat. Acta Physiol. Scand. 79, 24–36 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedger, J.H., Webber, R.H.: Anatomical study of the cervical sympathetic trunk and ganglia in the albino rat (Mus norvegicus albinus). Acta Anat. 96, 206–217 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinsey, J.C., Corbin, K.B.: Observations on the peripheral course of the sensory fibers in the first four cervical nerves of the cat. J. Comp. Neurol. 60, 37–44 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristensson, K., Olsson, Y., Sjöstrand, J.: Axonal uptake and retrograde transport of exogenous proteins in the hypoglossal nerve. Brain Res. 32, 399–406 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langworthy, O.R.: Problems of tongue innervation: course of proprioceptive nerve fibers, autonomic innervation of skeletal musculature. Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 35, 239–246 (1924a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langworthy, O.R.: A study of the innervation of the tongue musculature with particular reference to the proprioceptive mechanism. J. Comp. Neurol. 36, 273–297 (1924b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Law, M.E.: Lingual proprioception in pig, dog and cat. Nature 174, 1107–1108 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindquist, Ch., Martensson, A.: Reflex responses induced by stimulation of hypoglossal afferents. Acta Physiol. Scand. 77, 234–240 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodge, D., Duggan, A.W., Biscoe, T.J., Caddy, K.W.T.: Concerning recurrent collaterals and afferent fibers in the hypoglossal nerve of the rat. Exp. Neurol. 41, 63–75 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morimoto, T., Kawamura, Y.: Discharge patterns of hypoglossal afferents in a cat. Brain Res. 35, 539–542 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, Y.: Possible afferent components in the hypoglossal nerve influencing the trigeminal monosynaptic reflex of the cat. Anat. Rec. 160, 399 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuhuber, W., Niederle, B., Zenker, W.: Somatopetal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the peripheral and central branches of dorsal root ganglion cells. Cell Tissue Res. 183, 395–402 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Niederle, B., Mayr, R.: Course of denervation atrophy in type I and type II fibers of rat extensor digitorum longus muscle. Anat. Embryol. 153, 9–21 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, B.J., McLachlan, E.M.: Uptake and retrograde transport of HRP by axons of intact and damaged peripheral nerve trunks. Neurosci. Lett. 6, 135–141 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, B.J., McLachlan, E.M.: Localization of sensory neurons traversing the stellate ganglion of the cat. J. Comp. Neurol. 182, 915–922 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond, F.J.R., Anstee, G.C.B., Sherwin, E.A., Abrahams, V.C.: Motor and sensory fibers of neck muscle nerves in the cat. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 54, 294–304 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond, F.J.R., Scott, D.A., Abrahams, V.C.: Distribution of motoneurons to neck musles, biventer cervicis, splenius and complexus in cat. J. Comp. Neurol. 181, 451–463 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauerland, E.K., Mizuno, N.: Hypoglossal nerve afferents: elicitation of a polysynaptic hypoglossolaryngeal reflex. Brain Res. 10, 256–258 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Takata, M., Fujita, S., Shohara, E.: Postsynaptic potentials in the hypoglossal motoneurons set up by hypoglossal nerve stimulation. Jpn. J. Physiol. 29, 49–60 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, T.: Afferent projections in the hypoglossal nerve to the facial neurons of the cat. Brain Res. 99, 140–144 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarkhan, A.A.: Ein experimenteller Beitrag zur Kenntnis der proprioceptiven Innervation der Zunge. Z. Anat. Entw. gesch. 105, 349–358 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarkhan, A.A., Abou-el-Nage, I.: Sensory fibers in the hypoglossal nerve. J. Anat. 81, 23–32 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weddell, G., Harpman, J.A., Lambley, D.C., Young, L.: The innervation of the musculature of the tongue. J. Anat. 74, 255–267 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitwam, J.G., Kidd, C., Fussey, I.F.: Activity in efferent sympathetic nerves evoked by stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. Brain Res. 14, 756–758 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee, J., Harrison, F., Corbin, K.B.: The sensory innervation of the spinal accessory and tongue musculature in the rabbit. J. Comp. Neurol. 70, 305–315 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zapata, P., Torrealba, G.: Mechanosensory units in the hypoglossal nerve of the cat. Brain Res. 32, 349–367 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimny, R., Sobusiak, T., Matlosz, Z.: The afferent components of the hypoglossal nerve. J. f. Hirnforsch. 12, 83–100 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Gloriastrasse 19, CH-8006, Zürich, Schweiz

    Winfried Neuhuber & Anna Mysicka

Authors
  1. Winfried Neuhuber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna Mysicka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the “Hartmann Müller-Stiftung, Zürich”

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Neuhuber, W., Mysicka, A. Afferent neurons of the hypoglossal nerve of the rat as demonstrated by horseradish peroxidase tracing. Anat Embryol 158, 349–360 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301822

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301822

Key words

Search

Navigation