The somatotopy of the gracile nucleus in cats with agenesis of a hindfoot.

Abstract

The somatotropic representation of the hindlimb in the gracile nucleus was studied in two cats who had a congenital defect of one hindfoot. The defect comprised all of the foot downward from and including the heel, and the distal third of tibia and fibula. The part of the sciatic nerve normally supplying the lower hindlimb and the hindfoot was reduced in diameter by one third. The motoneurones corresponding to the absent muscles were lacking and replaced by glial elements. The cross-sectional area of the dorsal columns at segment S2 was reduced by more than 20%. The gracile nuclei, in contrast, were not reduced in size. Only the diameter of its neurones was significantly smaller. Electrophysiological single and multi-neurone recordings revealed an altered somatotopic representation in the gracile nucleus on the defective side. The nuclear area normally representing the missing parts of the body surface now received input from the stump. There was no nuclear area devoid of afferent input, and there was no input in the gracile from the forelimb or from the contralateral side. It is concluded that the remaining parts of the leg project onto the gracile nucleus in an ordered fashion, sharing the entire nucleus according to their present afferent fibres.