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The projection from nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis onto the cerebellum in the cat

A study using the methods of anterograde degeneration and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase

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Summary

Following stereotactically performed lesions in nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (N.r.t.) degenerating fibers are traced to the contralateral N.r.t., to the pontine nuclei, through brachium pontis to restricted areas of the cerebellar nuclei and to most parts of the cerebellar cortex where they terminate in the granular layer. Most degenerating fragments are found in the contralateral half of the cerebellum with the greatest density in the vermal lobules VI and VIIA and in the flocculus.

Following injections of HRP in the various cerebellar lobules labeled cells are mainly present within limited groups in the N.r.t.. Injections in vermal lobules VI-VIII B give rise to labeled cells within circumscribed areas in the dorsal and ventral parts throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the N.r.t.. In cases with injections in lobule IX or the ventral paraflocculus labeled cells are found ventrally in the rostral half of the N.r.t., while following injections in the vermal lobules I-V labeled cells are mainly found in the ventral and caudal part of the N.r.t.. Following injections in the intermediate and lateral parts of the anterior lobe, Crus I and II, the paramedian lobule and the dorsal paraflocculus labeled cells occur within groups in medial and lateral parts throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the N.r.t.. Following injections in the flocculus labeled cells are found in a very distinct group in the dorsal and rostral part of the N.r.t., While an injection in the nodulus (lobule X) gave rise to a smaller group of labeled neurons in the dorsolateral corner in the caudal part of the N.r.t.. Labeled cells within processus tegmentosus lateralis (p.t.l.) are only found following injections in lobules VI-VIIIA, Crus I and II and the dorsal paraflocculus.

From what is known about afferents to the N.r.t., it is concluded that no cerebellar lobule gets information from one only of these sources via the N.r.t.. Visual information can probably be mediated from the superior colliculus via the N.r.t. to the flocculus and to a minor extent to the vermal lobules VI-VIII B, and from the pretectum via the N.r.t. to both vermal and lateral parts of the cerebellum.

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  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Norway

    Grethe Hellstrøm Hoddevik

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Hoddevik, G.H. The projection from nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis onto the cerebellum in the cat. Anat. Embryol. 153, 227–242 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315927

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