Direct connections of primary afferent fibers with central cervical nucleus neurons projecting to the cerebellum in the cat

Abstract

The synaptic organization of the central cervical nucleus (CCN) in the cat was examined by means of anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and the anterograde degeneration tracing technique. Light microscopic studies confirmed that cervical primary afferents terminate heavily in the region of CCN cerebellar projection neurons and electron microscopic findings demonstrated that primary afferent fibers of cervical dorsal roots form synapses mainly with distal dendrites of CCN neurons projecting to the cerebellum.