Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of the various nuclei of the trigeminal complex in the human newborn

Abstract

The various nuclei of the trigeminal complex were studied by immunohistochemical (enkephalin localization) and ultrastructural means in the brainstems of eight newborn human babies that died within 24 h after birth. Positive enkephalin neurons were detected in the chief sensory and spinal trigeminal nuclei as well as in some fibers of the trigeminal nerve. Ultrastructurally, two morphologically distinct types of neuron were observed, respectively, in the motor nucleus, the spinal nucleus and the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal complex, whereas three morphologically distinct types of neuron were observed in the chief sensory nucleus. “Glomerulus” formation was a frequently observed feature in the chief sensory nucleus. In the spinal nucleus, rolls of synaptic terminals stacking up one on top of another and synapsing onto the final synaptic element were very much in evidence. Axosoniatic, axodendritic, dendrodendritic and dendroaxonic synapses were demonstrated in all the different nuclear areas of the trigeminal complex but axoaxonic synapses were absent in the mesencephalic nucleus. Some of the findings in the present human study were similar to those reported in the rats and cats.