Parasagittal organization of the olivocerebellar projection in the mouse

Abstract

The inferior olivocerebellar projection of the normal inbred C57BL/6J mouse was visualized after anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated to the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (HRP‐WGA conjugate). Following injections of HRP‐WGA conjugate which filled the entire inferior olivary nucleus on one side, olivocerebellar fibers were followed across the midline of the medulla and into the contralateral cerebellar cortex via the inferior cerebellar peduncle. The molecular layer was heavily but nonuniformly labeled in all cortical lobules. Labeled olivocerebellar fibers within the contralateral cerebellar molecular layer were grouped into distinct bands separated by regions of molecular layer containing no labeled fibers. The bands of olivocerebellar terminals in the molecular layer were in turn organized into distinct sets of bands oriented in parasagittal planes. The organizational basis for this banding pattern, previously recognized by other workers in other mammalian and avian species, remains unknown.