Spinal Projections from the Mesencephalon in the Toad

Abstract

Mesencephalic cell groups projecting to the spinal cord have been identified by means of the retrograde axonal transport of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The injections were made either in the cervical or lumbar enlargements of the toad spinal cord. Following injections in the cervical cord, labeled cells are located in the isthmus region, in the ipsilateral laminated nucleus posteroventralis tegmenti mesencephali (Potter). At more rostral levels the labeled cells are in the nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, in the nucleus interstitialis of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, in the contralateral red nucleus, in lamina six of the contralateral optic tectum, bilaterally in the nucleus of the posterior commissure and in the mesencephalic nucleus in the Vth nerve. Injections in the lumbar cord label neurons of the nucleus posteroventralis tegmenti mesencephali (Potter) and nucleus interstitialis of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis. Nuclei that had not been previously identified in anurans but which were labeled after HRP spinal injections (i. e., the nucleus interstitialis of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, the nucleus of the posterior commissure and the red nucleus) have been delimited in normal material in Nissl-stained transverse sections. The spinal pathways from the mesencephalon can be classified into four projections: reticulospinal, rubrospinal, tectospinal and trigeminospinal. A comparison of these descending fiber systems with homologous pathways in other vertebrate species has been made.