Connexions from large, ipsilateral hind limb muscle and skin afferents to the rostral main cuneate nucleus and to the nucleus X region in the cat

Abstract

1. Evidence is presented for an input from ipsilateral hind limb group I muscle afferents and low threshold cutaneous afferents, to cells in the rostral division of the main cuneate nucleus (rMCN) and in the region of the descending vestibular nucleus and the nucleus X of Brodal & Pompeiano (1957a), the (DV-X). 2. Thirteen group I-rMCN cells were recorded from. The functional properties of these cells were similar to those of nueleus Z (Landgren & Silfvenius, 1971; Johansson & Silfvenius, 1977a, b). The cells were monosynaptically linked to spinal dorsolateral fascicle (DLF) fibres. Nine cells projected to the contralateral thalamus, i.e. a second group I hind limb bulbothalamic tract is described. Ten cells were synaptically activated from the ipsilateral cerebellum from the anterior projection zone of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT). Axon-collateral activation by DSCT fibres was established for two of these cells. They were both bulbothalamic relay cells. For the remaining eight cells, activated from the cerebellum, this was not proven. These cells could, however, either be linked to DSCT fibres or to short axon-collaterals of a cell body of unknown location. A projection from the rMCN to the cerebellum is described and agrees with recent anatomical findings. Two cells were not excited from the cerebellum. 3. Four rMCN cells were activated by cutaneous afferents with their secondary axons in the DLF. Suggestive evidence for a bulbothalamic cutaneous hind limb path via the rMCN is presented. Two cells were activated from the cerebellum, presumably via axon-collaterals of nonsegmental cells. 4. Eight group I-DV-X cells were recorded from. They were monosynaptically linked to spinal DLF fibres and resembled functionally the nucleus Z and rMCN cells when stimulated from the periphery. Two cells projected to the contralateral thalamus, and two others were synaptically excited. Seven cells were activated from the ipsilateral cerebellum. Two of them projected to the cerebellum, and three were synapitcally activated by axon-collaterals of an undefined non-segmental cell. 5. Two DV-X cells which were activated by cutaneous afferents possibly had their spinal fibres deep in the dorsal column. Both were activated from the cerebellum, one by collaterals of a spinal axon. The functional organization of the three juxtaposed medullary nuclei, Z, rMCN and DV-X is discussed.