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Efferent connections of the red nucleus in the brainstem and spinal cord of the rhesus monkey

1973; Wiley; Volume: 152; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/cne.901520403

1096-9861

Richard A. Miller, Norman L. Strominger,

Glycogen Storage Diseases and Myoclonus

Abstract Three types of neuron with differences in Nissl pattern were found in the red nucleus of the rhesus monkey. Neurons with coarse Nissl bodies occurred only in the caudal third of the red nucleus except for a small number which extended rostrally a short distance along the dorsolateral margin. Neurons with fine Nissl bodies occupied the rostral two‐thirds of the nucleus. Neurons with slight cytoplasmic basophilia (achromatic) were smaller than the other types and distributed throughout the red nucleus. Perikaryal areas of the coarse and fine neurons, measured with a computer, had widely overlapping distributions. Electrolytic lesions were made unilaterally in the red nucleus of nine monkeys. Ascending axonal degeneration was studied in sections stained by the Fink‐Heimer method. Two separate descending tracts were followed. The rubrobulbo‐spinal tract took origin from coarse neurons, crossed completely in the ventral tegmental decussation, and terminated as follows: in parts of the superior sensory trigeminal, motor facial and lateral reticular nuclei; in the gracile and cuneate nuclei; in the nucleus medullae oblongata, subnucleus dorsalis; in Rexed's laminae V, VI, VII at all levels of the spinal cord. In contrast, the rubroreticulo‐olivary tract took origin from fine neurons, remained uncrossed, and terminated in some reticular nuclei (pedunculopontine, pontis oralis and caudalis, gigantocellularis) and in parts of the inferior olivary complex. Degeneration was profuse in the dorsal lamina of the main olive, abundant in the ventral lamina, particularly in its lateral side, sparse and inconstant in the medial accessory olive, and invariably absent in the dorsal accessory olive. Thus, nuclei which receive descending projections from the red nucleus may be grouped into those with connections to lower motor neurons, cerebellum, or thalamus.