Evolution of the reticular formation

Abstract

The reticular formation of mammals contains numerous nuclei which can be recognized by their projection patterns, cytoarchitectonics, and neuropeptide/neurotransmitter content. We have identified reticular nuclei in representatives from numerous reptilian groups and ascertained presence or absence of these reticular nuclei in an attempt to use neuronal occurrence as a tool to determine phylogenetic relationships. Recently these studies have been extended to two elasmobranchs, a galeomorph shark and a ray. In this report, we concentrate on three medullary spinal projecting reticular nuclei, reticularis gigantocellularis, reticularis magnocellularis, and reticularis paragigantocellularis. We found that all three nuclei were present in rats, lizards, and elasmobranchs, but one nucleus was absent in crocodilians, and two nuclei were absent in turtles. Thus brain organization may give us clues to phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, these three reticular nuclei exhibited remarkably similar cellular morphology in mammals, reptiles, and elasmobranchs.