Basal ganglia projections to the brain stem in the lizard Varanus exanthematicus as demonstrated by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

Abstract

In the present study the cells of origin of basal ganglia projections to the brain stem have been studied with the horseradish peroxidase technique in the lizard, Varanus exanthematicus. Injections of horseradish peroxidase were made at various levels of the brain stem from the mesodiencephalic border to the obex as well as in the tectum mesencephali. Efferent libers from the telencephalon to the diencephalon and the brain stem were found to arise predominantly from the striatum. From the present data it seems likely that the basal ganglia in Varanus exanthematicus as in other reptiles consist of two parts, a rostral ‘striatal’ part with projections mainly to the diencephalon and mesencephalon including the substantia nigra and a caudal ‘pallidal’ part with projections to the intercollicular nucleus and the rhombencephalic reticular formation. Injections of horseradish peroxidase into various parts of the rhombencephalic reticular formation have shown rather extensive projections from diencephalic and mesencephalic structures which receive afferents from the striatum: the posterior entopeduncular nucleus, the intercollicular nucleus and the substantia nigra were found to project as far caudal as the nucleus reticularis inferior. The substantia nigra shows, as regards its fiber connections, striking similarities to the mammalian substantia nigra, whereas the intercollicular nucleus possibly represents the reptilian homologue of the mammalian pedunculopontine nucleus. Injections of horseradish peroxidase into the tectum mesencephali have shown labeled cells in the nucleus of the posterior commissure, the posterior entopeduncular nucleus and the substantia nigra, all centers which are known to receive afferents from the striatum. Thus, the striatum can influence bisynaptically the reptilian homologue of the mammalian superior colliculus. It can be concluded that the striatum of the lizard, Varanus exanthematicus, has extensive direct as well as indirect projections to centers which influence the motor apparatus of the brain stem and spinal cord. Thus in reptiles it seems likely that the striatum exerts its influence on motor activity mainly via descending projections, in contrast to mammals where both descending and ascending striatal efferent pathways occur.