Cholinergic projections from the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei to the pontine gigantocellular tegmental field in the cat

Abstract

This study demonstrates that the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT) are sources of cholinergic projections to the cat pontine reticular formation gigantocellular tegmental field (PFTG). Neurons of the LDT and PPT were double-labeled utilizing choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP). In the LDT the percentage of cholinergic neurons retrogradely labeled from PFTG was 10.2% ipsilaterally and 3.7% contralaterally, while in the PPT the percentages were 5.2% ipsilaterally and 1.3% contralaterally. These projections from the LDT and PPT to the PFTG were confirmed and their course delineated with anterograde labeling utilizing Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) anterograde transport.