Topographical projections from the cerebral cortex to the nucleus of the solitary tract in the cat

Abstract

The distribution of cerebral cortical neurons sending projection fibers to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), and the topographical distribution of axon terminals of cortico-NST fibers within the NST were examined in the cat by two sets of experiments with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and HRP conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP). First, HRP was injected into the NST. In the cerebral cortex of these cats, neuronal cell bodies were labeled retrogradely in the deep pyramidal cell layer (layer V): After HRP injection centered on the rostral or middle part of the NST, HRP-labeled neuronal cell bodies were distributed mainly in the orbital gyrus and caudal part of the infralimbic cortex, and additionally in the rostral part of the anterior sylvian gyrus. After HRP injection centered on the caudal part of the NST, labeled neuronal cell bodies were seen mainly in the caudoventral part of the infralimbic cortex, and additionally in the orbital gyrus, posterior sigmoid gyrus and rostral part of the anterior sylvian gyrus. The labeling in the infralimbic cortex, orbital gyrus and anterior sylvian gyrus was bilateral with a predominantly ipsilateral distribution, while that in the posterior sigmoid gyrus was bilateral with a clear-cut contralateral dominance. In the second set of experiments, WGA-HRP was injected into the cerebral cortical regions where neuronal cell bodies had been retrogradely labeled with HRP injected into the NST: After WGA-HRP injection into the orbital gyrus, presumed axon terminals in the NST were labeled in the rostral two thirds of the nucleus bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance. After WGA-HRP injection into the rostral part of the anterior sylvian gyrus, a moderate number of presumed axon terminals were labeled throughout the whole rostrocaudal extent of the NST bilaterally with a slight ipsilateral dominance. After WGA-HRP injection into the middle and caudal parts of the anterior sylvian gyrus, no labeling was found in the NST. After WGA-HRP injection into the caudal part of the infralimbic cortex, presumed terminal labeling in the NST was seen throughout the whole rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus bilaterally with a dominant ipsilateral distribution. After WGA-HRP injection into the posterior sigmoid gyrus, however, no terminal labeling was found in the NST. The results indicate that cortico-NST fibers from the orbital gyrus terminate in the rostral two thirds of the NST, while those from the infralimbic cortex and the rostral part of the anterior sylvian gyrus project to the whole rostrocaudal extent of the NST.