An HRP study of hypothalamo-cerebellar and cerebello-hypothalamic connections in squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

Abstract

This study describes the distribution of labeled hypothalamic neurons in squirrel monkey following pressure injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into cerebellar cortex and the pattern of labeling in the cerebellar nuclei subsequent to iontophoretic injections localized in the hypothalamus. Two types of HRP (HRP and a wheat germ agglutinin conjugate, HRP-WGA) were used as tracers; tetramethylbenzidine was the chromogen. Retrogradely filled neurons were found in lateral (LHAr) and posterior (PHAr) hypothalamic areas, and in the lateral mammillary (LMNu) and supramammillary (SMNu) nuclei following injections into ansiform and paramedian lobules and into the paraflocculus. Labeled cells were occasionally seen in the medial mammillary nucleus (parafloccular cases) and among fascicles of the mammillothalamic tract (all posterior lobe cases) immediately above the medial nucleus. After injections into the anterior lobe, labelling was again found in the LHAr, PHAr, LMNu, and SMNu. In addition, retrogradely filled cells were present in ventromedial, dorsomedial, and dorsal hypothalamic nuclei and in the dorsal hypothalamic area. Labeled cells were occasionally found among fascicles of the fornix along its intrahypothalamic course. In general, labeling extends into slightly more rostral hypothalamic levels in anterior lobe cases when compared to posterior lobe experiments. We interpret these data as indicating that some hypothalamic neurons project directly to the cerebellar cortex (i.e., hypothalamo-cerebellar fibers); this projection is bilateral with an ipsilateral preponderance. In experiments with injections of HRP-WGA into the cerebellar nuclei, anterogradely filled axons were traced into the contralateral PHAr and LHAr; this was suggestive of a direct cerebello-hypothalamic projection. Following iontophoretic injections localized in the LHAr and the medial mammillary nucleus, labeling was seen in the medial (NM), posterior interposed (NIP), and lateral (NL) cerebellar nuclei; this is essentially a contralateral projection. Retrogradely labeled cells were found in the rostral and ventral NM, the ventral and dorsocaudal NL, and diffusely throughout the NIP. On the basis of the known distribution of cerebello-thalamic fibers and other criteria, these labeled cells are representative of a true cerebello-hypothalamic projection. It is suggested that the cerebellum, through these pathways, may have a relatively direct influence on visceral centers in the brainstem and spinal cord.