Abstract
The presence of the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) in different mammals, including humans, has been established in a number of anatomical research works. The LCN receives its afferent inputs from the spinocervical tract, and conveys this somatosensory information to the various brain areas, especially the thalamus. In the present study, the organization of the calf and pig LCN was examined through the use of thionine staining and immunohistochemical methods combined with morphometrical analyses. Specifically, the localization of calbindin-D28k (CB-D28k) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the LCN was investigated using the immunoperoxidase method. Calf and pig LCN appear as a clearly defined column of gray matter located in the three cranial segments of the cervical spinal cord. Thionine staining shows that polygonal neurons represent the main cell type in both species. The calf and pig LCN contained CB-D28k-immunoreactive (IR) neurons of varying sizes. Large neurons are probably involved in the generation of the cervicothalamic pathway. Small CB-D28k-IR neurons, on the other hand, could act as local interneurons. The immunoreactivity for nNOS was found to be mainly located in thin neuronal processes that could represent the terminal axonal portion of nNOS-IR found in laminae III e IV. This evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) could modulate the synaptic activity of the glutamatergic spinocervical tracts. These findings suggest that the LCN of Artiodactyls might play an important role in the transmission of somatosensory information from the spinal cord to the higher centers of the brain.
Highlights
The lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) is a column of gray matter located in the most caudal part of the medulla and in the dorsal portion of the lateral funiculus of the C1, C2, and C3 spinal segments (Rexed and Brodal 1951)
A well-developed LCN was present in the dorsal part of the bovine lateral funiculus
The cytoarchitectonic organization of the bovine and porcine LCN was investigated by using a combination of thionine staining and morphometrical analyses
Summary
The lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) is a column of gray matter located in the most caudal part of the medulla and in the dorsal portion of the lateral funiculus of the C1, C2, and C3 spinal segments (Rexed and Brodal 1951). This nucleus receives mechanical and noxious stimuli from the skin (including hair) through the spinocervical tract, which originates in laminae III and IV along the length. It must be noted that the latest studies on the anatomical organization of the LCN in the different species date back to about twenty years ago. The distribution of CB-D28k and nNOS immunoreactivity in the LCN was determined using the immunoperoxidase technique
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
