Dorsal Accessory Nucleus Research Articles

Effects produced by local applications of harmaline in the inferior olive.

Local microinjections of harmaline evoked sustained rhythmic activity in the inferior olive of decerebrate cats. Harmaline appears to exert its action within restricted areas of the inferior olivary complex: the caudal halves of the dorsal and medial accessory nuclei. Since the highly synchronized activity generated by harmaline can be attributed to extensive electrotonic coupling between olivary neurones, it is postulated that such a coupling mechanism is weaker if not absent in the principal olive and in the rostral parts of the accessory nuclei.

The direct spinal area of the inferior olivary nucleus: an electron microscopic study.

Identification of the direct spinal areas (portions of the dorsal and medial accessory nuclei) within the opossum inferior olivary complex was accomplished by mapping the location of the terminal degeneration by the Fink-Heimer technique subsequent to cervical cord lesions. Following similar lesions, sampling of these same regions for electron microscopic study was assured by examination of transversely oriented, 1 mu plastic sections prior to thin sectioning. The first evidence of electron dense axon terminals was found at a survival time of 24 hours. At survival times of 36, 48 and 72 hours, degenerating presynaptic profiles shrink, become irregular in shape and are totally or partially surrounded by glial processes. Spinal terminals average 1-2 mu in their greatest dimension, contain round, clear synaptic vesicles and generally contact small diameter (0.4--1.8 mu) dendritic shafts or occasional spiny appendages. The spiny dendritic appendages make up the central core of the olivary glomeruli and these juxtaposed dendritic processes exhibit gap junctions. At longer survival times (5, 7 and 9 days) many presynaptic profiles with either round or pleomorphic synaptic vesicles remain normal in appearance and contact dendritic shafts or the spiny appendages within glomeruli. Afferents from other sources (possible including intrinsic neurons) must terminate within the direct spinal portion of the nuclear complex to account for the numerous axon terminals which retain normal morphology after such long survival times.

The structure and connections of the developing inferior olivary nucleus of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

AbstractStructural and morphological changes were examined in the inferior olivary complex of 25 rhesus monkeys that were 60 days gestation to three months after parturition. At different ages, one‐half brain stem was sectioned sagittaly, and when possible the symmetrical half was sectioned in either the coronal or the horizontal plane. Serial sections were stained by the silver reduction method of Stotler ('51).The olivary complex undergoes its major development between 60 and 129 days gestation when its length, cellular morphology, and afferent patterns resemble those of the adult organ. Structurally, the three major divisions—the principal nucleus, the dorsal accessory nucleus, and the medial accessory nucleus—can be identified at 60 days gestation. At that time, the medial accessory nucleus, the largest of the three, can be subdivided into a ventrolateral and a dorsomedial section; as it develops, it extends caudally and acquires a small cap of cells on its dorsomedial part. By 80 days, the dorsal lamella of the principal nucleus, initially smaller than the ventral, equals the ventral lamella in size and continues to enlarge until by 100 days it has developed two large sulci. The dorsal accessory nucleus, the smallest of the three divisions, initially has a distinct connection with the caudal part of the dorsal lamella of the principal nucleus but it is lost by 92 days.Major afferents to the inferior olive could easily be identified in the early fetal tissue—before the development of the dense neuropil. Afferents first arise from the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord at 60 days and project primarily onto the ventrolateral part of the medial accessory. As they develop, they gradually project more rostrally along the ventrolateral section, onto the dorsomedial section of the medial accessory, onto the caudal part of the ventral lamella, and along the caudomedial part of the dorsal accessory. At 92 days gestation the central tegmental fasciculus, most of which originates from the red nucleus projects into the rostral and later into the middle section of the dorsal lamella, into the rostral ventral lamella, and a few into the rostrolateral part of the dorsal accessory and to the rostral third of the medial accessory. A few fibers arising from the corticospinal tract enter the caudal section of medial accessory, and a few fibers project vertically from the dorsomedial tegmental region of the medulla into the medial section of the dorsal accessory.

Morphology of the inferior olivary complex of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

AbstractThe morphology of the inferior olivary complex was determined in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). The position, configuration, and relations of each of its components were ascertained in serial transverse sections extending from caudal through rostral poles of the complex. The medial accessory nucleus was divided into seven cell groups (labeled a through g). The principal nucleus consisted of well‐developed dorsal, ventral, and lateral lamellae and a criterion was established for distinguishing the boundaries of each. This distinction was based upon the pattern of invagination that developed in the principal nucleus in progressing rostrally from its caudal pole. The dorsal and lateral lamellae each presented a characteristic pattern of major invaginations, while the ventral lamella did not. Finally, a detailed comparison was made of the inferior olivary complex of the monkey with that of the cat as determined by other investigators. It was shown that the medial and dorsal accessory nuclei of the two species appeared similar and that the major difference between these species concerns the principal nucleus.

Projection of dorsal column nuclei and spinal cord to brainstem and thalamus in the tree shrew, Tupaia glis.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the projections of the dorsal column nuclei and spinal pathways to the brainstem and thalamus in Tupaia glis. Animals with unilateral lesions in the dorsal column nuclei or with lateral hemisections were perfused after 5 to 14 days survival time and sections were treated with Nauta or Fink/Heimer silver impregnation methods. The findings indicate that efferent fibers of dorsal column nuclei terminate not only in the thalamus but also in the dorsal accessory nucleus of the inferior olive and bilaterally in the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus. Some fibers terminate in periaqueductal gray and a few in pontine nuclei. In the diencephalon, efferents of the dorsal column nuclei were found to terminate in the posterior group (PO), ventroposterior nucleus (VP) and zona incerta. Spinal efferents were traced to the medial and dorsal accessory nuclei of the inferior olive, medullary and mesencephalic reticular formation, facial and vestibular nuclei, cuneiform nucleus, locus caeruleus, parabrachial nuclei and periaqueductal gray, and also to the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus. Evidence was found of more limited additional spinal projections to PO intralaminar nuclei and VP. The results of this study indicate that the dorsal column system, generally considered to be a phylogenetically new direct pathway to the thalamus, contains other components comparable to some of the spinal efferent connections with the brainstem. Moreover, even in this intermediate form, whose exact taxonomic position is unsettled, the dorsal column‐medial lemniscus system to the thalamus appears to be of greater volume than the anterolateral spinothalamic connection.

Topical projection of the olivocerebellar system in the cat: an electrophysiological study.

AbstractUsing electrophysiological recording, topical aspects of the olivocerebellar projection were studied in the locally anesthetized cat immobilized with Flaxedil. Transcortical evoked potentials were recorded simultaneously from eight electrodes distributed over the cerebellar surface, and averaged with a LINC computer. Precautions were taken to eliminate virtual potentials from this volume conductor situation. The evoked potentials consisted of a 4–6 msec positive spike, latency 4.5–7 msec, followed by a 15–30 msec slow negative deflection. Each was recorded from one or two folia contralateral in distribution. Medial and dorsal accessory nuclei project largely to cerebellar vermis. A rostrocaudal relationship was found between posterior vermis and medial accessory nucleus, and vermal anterior lobe received its projection from the caudal and midportions of medial and dorsal accessory components. A dense representation of accessory nucleus responses was present over the declive as compared with other cerebellar areas. Paravermal responses of anterior lobe derived from rostral dorsal accessory olive, and principal olive connected to the hemispheral region. The ventral lamella of principal olive projected to Crus II, dorsal lamella to Crus I. These lobules are represented rostrally in the principal nucleus, whereas the source for paramedial lobules was situated more caudally. The results correlate well with the retrograde degeneration studies of Brodal ('40, '54) but differ in the detail of some projections.