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Midbrain connections of the olivary pretectal nucleus in the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): implications for the pupil light reflex pathway

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Abstract

Midbrain projections of the pretectal olivary nucleus (PON) were studied in the marmoset, a New World primate. The fluorescent retrograde tracers Fluoro-Gold (FG) and Fast Blue (FB) were injected into the Edinger-Westphal (EW) nucleus and the lateral terminal nucleus (LTN), respectively. EW nucleus injections resulted in retrograde labeling of significant numbers of FG-positive neurons of the PON as well as a small number of cells in the LTN. LTN injections led to labeling of a population of singly-labeled cells seen dispersed through the larger population of FG-labeled somata within the contralateral PON. The ipsilateral PON was devoid of FB-labeled somata, whereas the adjacent nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) contained FB-labeled cells. These findings show that a large number of PON neurons project directly to the oculomotor complex. Additionally, the study shows the presence of a separate population of PON neurons projecting to the contralateral LTN. This, combined with our earlier observation that LTN neurons project to the EW nucleus in the marmoset (see main text for reference), lends support to the presence of separate direct and indirect pupillary light reflex pathways from the PON to the nucleus of EW.

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Abbreviations

PON:

Pretectal olivary nucleus

NOT:

Nucleus of the optic tract

NPC:

Nucleus of the posterior commissure

EW:

Edinger-Westphal (nucleus)

LTN:

Lateral terminal nucleus

FG:

Fluoro-Gold

FB:

Fast Blue

PAG:

Periaqueductal gray

AON:

Accessory oculomotor nuclei

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. J.H. Fallon for supplying the Fluoro-Gold and Fast Blue. We greatly appreciate the capable technical assistance of Mr. Sang Van Pham.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Jersey Neuroscience Institute of JFK Medical Center and Seton Hall University, 65 James Street, PO Box 3059, Edison, NJ 08818, USA

    Robert J. Clarke

  2. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Keiso Asami Institute, Federal University of Pernambuco, Ciudade Universitaria, Recife 50.000 PE, Brazil

    Robert J. Clarke

  3. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California–Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697–1275, USA

    Robert H. I. Blanks & Roland A. Giolli

Authors
  1. Robert J. Clarke
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  2. Robert H. I. Blanks
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  3. Roland A. Giolli
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Correspondence to Robert J. Clarke.

Additional information

Research supported by grants awarded to RJC through the Brazilian Councils for Science and Technology (CNPq and FINEP).

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Clarke, R.J., Blanks, R.H.I. & Giolli, R.A. Midbrain connections of the olivary pretectal nucleus in the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): implications for the pupil light reflex pathway. Anat Embryol 207, 149–155 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-003-0339-0

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