Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1985 May;140(Pt 3):461–469.

Brainstem connections of vagal afferent nerves in the ferret: an autoradiographic study.

A Odekunle, A J Bower
PMCID: PMC1165112  PMID: 4066482

Abstract

Using an autoradiographic technique the central connections of vagal afferent fibres in the ferret were studied. The results show that the principal site of termination is the ipsilateral nucleus of the tractus solitarius with smaller projections to the contralateral tractus nucleus, the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the area postrema and subpostrema. The fibres cross the midline via the commissural nucleus of Cajal. No evidence of vagal afferent fibres was found in the reticular formation, the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, the external cuneate nucleus or the dorsal horns of the first and second cervical spinal segments. The findings from all studies using axon tracing techniques on vagal afferent fibres are summarised.

Full text

PDF
461

Images in this article

464Fig. 1
on p.464
466Fig. 3
on p.466

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ANDERSON F. D., BERRY C. M. An oscillographic study of the central pathways of the vagus nerve in the cat. J Comp Neurol. 1956 Nov;106(1):163–181. doi: 10.1002/cne.901060106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Andrews P. L., Lawes I. N., Bower A. J. Peripheral functional organisation of vagally evoked gastric motor responses in the ferret. Gut. 1980 Oct;21(10):811–817. doi: 10.1136/gut.21.10.811. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Andrews P. L., Lawes I. N. Interactions between splanchnic and vagus nerves in the control of mean intragastric pressure in the ferret. J Physiol. 1984 Jun;351:473–490. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015257. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Beckstead R. M., Norgren R. An autoradiographic examination of the central distribution of the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagal nerves in the monkey. J Comp Neurol. 1979 Apr 1;184(3):455–472. doi: 10.1002/cne.901840303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bower A. J., Parker S., Molony V. An autoradiographic study of the afferent innervation of the trachea, syrinx and extrapulmonary primary bronchus of Gallus gallus domesticus. J Anat. 1978 May;126(Pt 1):169–180. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. COTTLE M. K. DEGENERATION STUDIES OF PRIMARY AFFERENTS OF IXTH AND XTH CRANIAL NERVES IN THE CAT. J Comp Neurol. 1964 Jun;122:329–345. doi: 10.1002/cne.901220304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ciriello J., Hrycyshyn A. W., Calaresu F. R. Horseradish peroxidase study of brain stem projections of carotid sinus and aortic depressor nerves in the cat. J Auton Nerv Syst. 1981 Jun;4(1):43–61. doi: 10.1016/0165-1838(81)90006-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cowan W. M., Gottlieb D. I., Hendrickson A. E., Price J. L., Woolsey T. A. The autoradiographic demonstration of axonal connections in the central nervous system. Brain Res. 1972 Feb 11;37(1):21–51. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(72)90344-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dubbeldam J. L., Brus E. R., Menken S. B., Zeilstra S. The central projections of the glossopharyngeal and vagus ganglia in the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos L. J Comp Neurol. 1979 Jan 1;183(1):149–168. doi: 10.1002/cne.901830111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gwyn D. G., Leslie R. A., Hopkins D. A. Gastric afferents to the nucleus of the solitary tract in the cat. Neurosci Lett. 1979 Sep;14(1):13–17. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(79)95336-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Harding R., Leek B. F. Central projections of gastric afferent vagal inputs. J Physiol. 1973 Jan;228(1):73–90. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010073. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hino O., Kanafusa K., Tsunekawa K. Quantitative histological study of spinal afferent innervation on the ventral surface of the cat stomach by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. Experientia. 1979 Mar 15;35(3):379–380. doi: 10.1007/BF01964365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. KERR F. W. Facial, vagal and glossopharyngeal nerves in the cat. Afferent connections. Arch Neurol. 1962 Apr;6:264–281. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1962.00450220006003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kalia M., Mesulam M. M. Brain stem projections of sensory and motor components of the vagus complex in the cat: I. The cervical vagus and nodose ganglion. J Comp Neurol. 1980 Sep 15;193(2):435–465. doi: 10.1002/cne.901930210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kalia M., Sullivan J. M. Brainstem projections of sensory and motor components of the vagus nerve in the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1982 Nov 1;211(3):248–265. doi: 10.1002/cne.902110304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kalia M., Welles R. V. Brain stem projections of the aortic nerve in the cat: a study using tetramethyl benzidine as the substrate for horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res. 1980 Apr 21;188(1):23–32. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(80)90553-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kumada M., Nakajima H. Field potentials evoked in rabbit brainstem by stimulation of the aortic nerve. Am J Physiol. 1972 Sep;223(3):575–582. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1972.223.3.575. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Mackay T. W., Andrews P. L. A comparative study of the vagal innervation of the stomach in man and the ferret. J Anat. 1983 May;136(Pt 3):449–481. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Morita Y., Ito H., Masai H. Central gustatory paths in the crucian carp, Carassius carassius. J Comp Neurol. 1980 May 1;191(1):119–132. doi: 10.1002/cne.901910107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Norman P., Bower A. J. An autoradiographic study of the brainstem projections of vagal visceral afferent fibres in the domestic hen. J Anat. 1982 May;134(Pt 3):583–589. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Rhoton A. L., Jr, O'Leary J. L., Ferguson J. P. The trigeminal, facial, vagal, and glossopharyngeal nerves in the monkey. Afferent connections. Arch Neurol. 1966 May;14(5):530–540. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1966.00470110074010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rubinson K., Friedman B. Vagal afferent projections in Rana pipiens, Rana catesbeiana, and Xenopus mülleri. With a note on lateral line and VIII nerve projection zones. Brain Behav Evol. 1977;14(5):368–380. doi: 10.1159/000125686. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sobusiak T., Zimny R., Matlosz Z. Primary glossopharyngeal and vagal afferent projection into the cerebellum in the dog. An experimental study with toluidine blue and silver impregnation methods. J Hirnforsch. 1971;13(1):117–134. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Wakley G. K., Bower A. J. The distal vagal ganglion of the hen (Gallus domesticus). A histological and physiological study. J Anat. 1981 Jan;132(Pt 1):95–105. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES