Precise Spatial Relationships between Mossy Fibers and Climbing Fibers in Rat Cerebellar Cortical Zones

Abstract

Classically, mossy fiber and climbing fiber terminals are regarded as having very different spatial distributions in the cerebellar cortex. However, previous anatomical studies have not studied these two major cerebellar inputs with sufficient resolution to confirm this assumption. Here, we examine the detailed pattern of collateralization of both types of cerebellar afferent using small injections of the bidirectional tracer cholera toxin b subunit into the posterior cerebellum. The cortical and zonal location of these injections was characterized by mapping climbing fiber field potentials, the distribution of retrogradely labeled olivary neurons, and the intrinsic zebrin pattern of Purkinje cells.

Labeled climbing fiber collaterals were distributed as longitudinal strips and were always accompanied by clusters of labeled mossy fiber rosettes in the subjacent granular layer. Two- and three-dimensional reconstructions and quantitative analysis showed that mossy fibers also collateralized to other stripe-like regions usually below Purkinje cells with the same zebrin-positive or zebrin-negative characteristics as that of the injection site and associated climbing fiber collaterals. The distribution of retrogradely labeled neurons in two major sources of mossy fibers, the lateral reticular and basilar pontine nuclei, revealed interlobular and some interzonal differences.

These data indicate that nonadjacent cerebellar zones, sharing the same climbing fiber input and zebrin identity, also share a common mossy fiber input. Other cerebellar cortical regions that receive collaterals from the same mossy fibers usually also have the same zebrin signature. Together with the distribution of neurons in precerebellar centers, the findings suggest a revision of the modular hypothesis for information processing in the cerebellar cortex.

Introduction

The two major afferent systems of the cerebellum, the climbing fiber and mossy fiber systems, are characterized by marked morphological, anatomical, and physiological differences (Ito, 1984). Neurons from specific parts of the inferior olive send their climbing fibers to narrow, longitudinally arranged, strips of Purkinje cells (Voogd and Glickstein, 1998; Sugihara and Shinoda, 2004). These strips of Purkinje cells project to specific regions of the cerebellar nuclei that also receive direct input from collaterals of the same climbing fibers, thus resulting in a modular arrangement of olivo-cortico-nuclear connections (Pijpers et al., 2005). Because the cerebellar nuclei constitute the output of the cerebellum, these modules are considered to act as functional entities (Voogd and Bigaré, 1980; Apps and Garwicz, 2005).

The organization of the mossy fibers, which synapse with granule cells and local cortical interneurons, appears much less well structured. They originate from many parts of the CNS such as the pontine nuclei, trigeminal complex, lateral reticular nucleus, dorsal column nuclei, and the spinal cord (Yatim et al., 1996; Alisky and Tolbert, 1997; Serapide et al., 2001; Odeh et al., 2005). Individual mossy fibers are characterized by a divergent pattern of projections (i.e., they distribute collaterals along both the rostrocaudal and mediolateral axes) (Mihailoff, 1993; Wu et al., 1999; Sultan, 2001; Ruigrok, 2003). The wide divergence of mossy fiber-based information is further magnified by the granule cell–parallel fiber system.

The organizational differences between the mossy fiber/parallel fiber system and the climbing fiber system have been central to all major theories of cerebellar function (Marr, 1969; Albus, 1971; Ito, 1984). Nevertheless, the anatomical interrelationship between mossy and climbing fiber systems has not, so far, been studied with sufficient detail to evaluate the structural relationships underpinning these hypotheses. Such an investigation should also provide an anatomical basis for understanding recent physiological observations on receptive field characteristics of climbing fibers and mossy fibers (Brown and Bower, 2001; Ekerot and Jorntell, 2001; Apps and Garwicz, 2005; Ito, 2006).

We have therefore charted the detailed topographical relationship of mossy and climbing fiber afferents by analyzing the distribution of their collateral terminations as labeled from small injections of cholera toxin b subunit (CTb) into specific climbing fiber-defined zones of the posterior cerebellar cortex. In addition, these patterns were related to the intrinsic bands of zebrin-positive and -negative Purkinje cells (Hawkes and Leclerc, 1987; Voogd et al., 2003). We show that labeled mossy fiber collaterals are always present in the granular layer directly below labeled collaterals of climbing fibers. In addition, mossy fibers also terminate in strip-like clusters at other cortical locations. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions and quantitative analysis show that these locations may be functionally linked to the site of injection because they often have the same zebrin signature. These findings, in combination with analyses of the distribution of labeled neurons in two major brainstem sources of mossy fibers, suggest that the mossy fiber system makes use of highly organized projection patterns that relate closely to the topography of the climbing fiber system.

Materials and Methods

Eleven adult, male Wistar rats (weight, 200–300 g) were used for the present study (Table 1). Most experiments (n = 9) were performed at the Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and with permission from the national committee overseeing animal experiments. In three of these experiments, the injections were guided by electrophysiological recording and the others (n = 6) were guided by anatomical landmarks alone (Table 1). The initial stage of the two additional experiments in which the injections were guided by electrophysiological recording, was performed at the Department of Physiology, University of Bristol in accordance with the United Kingdom Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986, and was approved by the institutional animal license advisory group. Six additional cases from Bristol and two from Rotterdam were consulted, but their injection sites were found to involve multiple cerebellar cortical zones and were not included in the present paper.

Table 1.

Summary of cases described in text and/or shown in figures

Case	Physiology	IO labeling				Anatomical zone	Zebrin	LRn labeling			Pn labeling			Ratio Pn/LRn
		MAO	vfDAO	PO	Total			Ipsilateral	Contralateral	Total	Ipsilateral	Contralateral	Total
GR03	No	0	167	0	167	C1-COP	P4−(e)	358	100	458	20	778	798	1.74
979	No	8	77	4	89	C1-PMD	P5a−	241	70	311	115	594	709	2.28
AP03a	FL-ip	0	104	1	105	C1-PMD	P5a−	181	53	234	82	550	632	2.70
AP10	FL-ip	0	73	0	73	C1-PMD	P5a−	96	18	114	33	355	388	3.40
981	No	23	1	0	24	C2-COP	P5+/7+	59	14	73	17	259	276	3.78
AP09	FL-ip, FL-co	37	3	0	40	C2-PMD	P5+	103	32	135	39	573	612	4.53
864	No	93	4	0	97	C2-PMD	P5+	63	26	89	58	432	490	5.51
A41	Face-ip	29	0	0	29	C2-Crus2B	P5+	36	17	53	52	337	389	7.34
978	No	5	0	12	17	D0/D1-PMD	P6+/7+	37	10	47	13	446	459	9.77
AP02a	FL-ip	0	6	53	59	D0/D1-PMD	P6+/7+	53	18	71	42	1051	1093	15.39
980	No	0	0	20	20	D1-PMD	P6+/7+	19	9	28	20	427	447	15.96

Cell counts were performed in a one of four series of sections in all cases. co, Contralateral; FL, forelimb; IO, inferior olive; ip, ipsilateral.

^aExperiments were performed in Bristol, United Kingdom; all other experiments were conducted in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Surgical procedures.

In the electrophysiologically guided experiments, animals were initially anesthetized by an intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg pentobarbital (Sagatal; Rhône Merieux, Harlow, UK; or Nembutal; Ceva Sante Animale B.V., Maasluis, The Netherlands). In all other cases, animals were anesthetized by an intraperitoneal injection of a ketamine/xylazine mixture (40–60 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg; ketamine; Alfasan, Woerden, The Netherlands; xylazine; Rompun, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany). In all experiments, supplementary doses were given intraperitoneally to maintain a deep level of anesthesia as monitored by absence of the pinch withdrawal reflex and loss of muscle tone. Body temperature was maintained and regulated within physiological limits with a thermostatically controlled heating blanket (37 ± 1°C). All animals were placed in a stereotaxic head holder and a small craniotomy exposed part of the posterior lobe of the cerebellum on one side, allowing access to crus 2, paramedian lobule (PMD), and copula pyramidis (COP). The atlanto-occipital membrane and the dura were opened and the exposed cerebellar surface was kept moist by periodic flushing with sterile saline solution.

In experiments guided by electrophysiology (n = 5), evoked climbing fiber field potentials were recorded extracellularly with glass-coated tungsten microelectrodes (tip, ∼50 μm; impedance, 50–140 kΩ). The responses were recorded on the cerebellar surface as the result of brief (0.1 ms) electrical percutaneous stimulation of the ipsilateral or contralateral forelimb or hindlimb (for a detailed description, see Atkins and Apps, 1997). In these experiments, the paravermal part of PMD, COP, or crus 2b was mapped at 0.1 mm intervals in a mediolateral direction. In this way, the C zones located within these lobules were electrophysiologically identified. Field potentials were amplified and bandpass filtered (30 Hz to 5 kHz), and a Humbug device (Quest Scientific, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) was used to eliminate 50 Hz electrical interference. Evoked cerebellar responses were recorded and stored for off-line analysis with customized trigger-sampled software (Spike 2; Cambridge Electronic Design, Cambridge, UK) running a Cambridge Electronic Design 1401 plus A/D converter (Pardoe and Apps, 2002). After localization of the desired cortical zone by mapping response amplitude, an iontophoretic injection (4 μA anodal, 7 s on, 7 s off, 10 min) was made of cholera toxin b subunit (CTb) (1% in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 7.4; List Biological Laboratories, Campbell, CA) using a glass micropipette (tip, 10–15 μm) attached to a custom-made iontophoresis device (Ruigrok et al., 1995; Teune et al., 1998). Microinjections were made at a depth of 200–300 μm at sites where Purkinje cell activity could be recorded. This procedure was followed for cases AP02, AP03; AP09, AP10, and A41. The remaining six experiments (cases 864, 978, 979, 980, 981, and GR03) were performed in Rotterdam using cerebellar surface coordinates [derived from Atkins and Apps (1997)] to guide the iontophoretic CTb injections.

In all experiments, the micropipette was withdrawn after the microinjection, the overlying muscle and skin layers were sutured, and the animal was allowed to recover. Postoperative analgesia was provided by subcutaneous administration of buprenorphine (0.05–0.1 mg/kg; Temgesic; Schering-Plough, Union, NJ). In cases in which increased fluid excretion led to an audible respiration during surgery, atropine sulfate (0.6 mg/kg; Atrocare; Animalcare, Dunnington, UK) was administered subcutaneously. All animals recovered uneventfully and were monitored daily.

Histology.

After a 7 d survival period, animals were killed by means of transcardial perfusion under deep barbiturate anesthesia (100–200 mg/kg, i.p.). An initial flush of 500 ml of 0.9% saline in 0.01 m phosphate buffer, pH 7.2–7.4 (PB) was given, followed by 1000 ml of fixative (4% paraformaldehyde, 0.1% glutaraldehyde, and 4% sucrose in 0.05 m PB. The brain was removed from the skull and postfixed for 1–2 h, after which it was rinsed and stored overnight in 0.05 m PB containing 10% sucrose (at 4°C), and subsequently embedded in 11% gelatin, 10% sucrose. Cerebellar and caudal brainstem blocks were hardened in 10% formalin, 30% sucrose solution for 3 h and were stored overnight in 0.05 m PB containing 30% sucrose at 4°C.

The tissue blocks were sectioned transversally at 40 μm on a freezing microtome and collected serially in eight glass vials containing 0.05 m PB (Ruigrok, 2003). Every other vial was processed either for CTb immunohistochemistry or for a combined CTb–zebrin immunostaining; the four remaining vials served as spares. Before processing, free-floating sections were rinsed three times in PBS (0.05 m PB, 0.9% NaCl, pH 7.6) and were subsequently incubated for 48–72 h in a polyclonal anti-choleragenoid raised in goat (goat anti-CTb; lot 703; List Biological Laboratories) diluted 1:15,000 in PBS and containing 0.5% Triton X-100 (PBS+, pH 7.4) at 4°C under constant gentle stirring. After subsequent rinsing in PBS, sections were further incubated in biotinylated donkey anti-goat (1:2000; Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA; in PBS+) for 1–2 h at room temperature (RT), rinsed in PBS, and incubated for 1–2 h (RT) in avidin–biotin complex (ABC Elite; Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) in PBS+. After an additional rinse in 0.05 m PB, two vials of sections were processed for CTb labeling using 3,3′-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) as the chromogen (0.25% DAB and 0.005% H₂O₂ in 0.05 m PB, pH 7.2, for 20 min), resulting in a brown reaction product. The other two vials were incubated in DAB-cobalt for 10–15 min [1.5 ml of CoSO₄ (1%) and 1.5 ml of NiSO₄ (1%) added to the DAB solution], resulting in a black reaction product. All vials were then rinsed in 0.05 m PB. The two vials of sections also processed for zebrin staining were rinsed in PBS and free-floating sections were incubated for 48–72 h in zebrin II antibody [1:150 in PBS+ containing 2% normal horse serum (NHS) at 4°C]. The zebrin II antibody, which was kindly provided by Dr. R. Hawkes (University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada), was produced by immunization with a crude cerebellar homogenate of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus (Brochu et al., 1990). After rinsing in PBS, sections were incubated for 2 h in rabbit anti-mouse HRP (p260; DakoCytomation, High Wycombe, UK; 1:200 in PBS+, containing 2% NHS). Subsequently, the sections were thoroughly rinsed in 0.05 m PB, again processed (this time without heavy metal ions) with DAB and H₂O₂ (15–20 min), and rinsed in 0.05 m PB. All sections were mounted serially on slides in a chromic alum solution, air dried, and counterstained with thionin, dehydrated in graded alcohol and xylene, and finally coverslipped with Permount.

Analysis.

In selected cases, in which the injection site was restricted primarily [in some cases entirely (Table 1)] to one cerebellar cortical zone, as judged by the distribution of retrogradely labeled cells in the inferior olive, sections were examined and plotted using an Olympus (Tokyo, Japan) microscope fitted with a Lucivid miniature monitor and Neurolucida software (MicroBrightField, Colchester, VT). A complete series of one in four transverse sections (interval, 160 μm) was examined for labeled climbing fiber collaterals and mossy fiber rosettes in the cerebellar cortex. The outline of each cerebellar section was plotted with a 2.5× objective, whereas mossy and climbing fiber terminals were examined using a 20× objective and the motorized stage scan option of the plot program. A 40× objective was occasionally used if there was any doubt concerning the identity of a labeled structure. Labeled neurons within the inferior olive were also plotted using a one in four series of transverse sections (160 μm interval), resulting in a series of 14–16 plots. Cell labeling was assigned to different olivary subdivisions based on the standard diagrams of Ruigrok and Voogd (2000). Olivary areas containing labeled neurons were also indicated in standardized flattened surface maps of the individual subnuclei (Ruigrok, 1997; Ruigrok and Voogd, 2000). Similarly, labeled neurons located within the ipsilateral and contralateral lateral reticular nucleus (LRn) were plotted using a 20× objective and using a description of the nucleus provided by Ruigrok (2004) (also see Newman and Ginsberg, 1992). From these plots, usually consisting of 18–20 transverse levels (at 160 μm interval), three-dimensional figurines of the left and right LRn were prepared with Neurolucida software. Counts of labeled neurons within the basal pontine nuclei (Pn) were constructed in a similar way (cases 864 and AP10). Additional pontine data were also obtained from Pijpers and Ruigrok (2006).

A Leica (Nussloch, Germany) DMR microscope equipped with a digital camera (Leica DC-300) was used to obtain photomicrographs. Photo panels were constructed in CorelDraw 11.0, after some correction for brightness and contrast in Corel Photopaint 11.0.

The individual cerebellar plots were used to construct the labeled mossy fiber terminals and climbing fiber collaterals in 2D reconstructions of the unfolded cerebellar surface (for a more detailed description, see Ruigrok, 2003). In short, the Purkinje cell layer, the underlying granular and overlying molecular layers were divided into 200-μm-wide mediolateral “bins.” Within each bin, the number of labeled mossy fiber rosettes was charted and counted. Molecular layer bins were marked positive or negative for labeled climbing fiber terminals. Foliations and lobulations were followed throughout the transverse sections, and data were entered in serial order. In this way, a 2D matrix was constructed for each experiment (on average, each matrix was based on 40 transverse sections) that was visualized using MATLAB routines (The MathWorks, Natick, MA). This resulted in an interpolated and color-coded representation of the density of labeled mossy fiber rosettes over the entire unfolded cerebellar cortex. Note that these cerebellar cortical surface maps do not take into account the depth of the granular layer, which can vary considerably depending on the place and angle of sectioning. Hence, color coding of the mossy fiber rosettes does not reflect actual density concentrations, but rather reflects a general estimate of these densities. Because all cases were analyzed in the same way, the diagrams should still provide a useful means to assess and compare distributions of labeled mossy fiber rosettes. Localization of labeled climbing fiber collaterals was shown in a similarly constructed plot using MATLAB routines. Here, bins in which the molecular layer contained labeled climbing fiber terminals (regardless of their density) are indicated in red. In this way, a direct comparison was possible between the regional distribution of labeled mossy fibers and the presence of climbing fiber collaterals. Injection sites were indicated by a white box and arrow.

To further visualize how labeled mossy and climbing fibers were distributed over and into the depths of a folium, 3D reconstructions of the simple lobule (SL) were obtained in three cases using Neurolucida 3D reconstruction software and using a one of four series of sections. Section by section alignment was performed using the Neurolucida software. The midline ventral surface of the fourth ventricle was used as a reference and new sections were shifted and rotated to obtain a best fit of contours. Three-point smoothing of contours was performed before final 3D rendering by Neurolucida.

In two cases (AP03 and A41), 3D plots of mossy fiber and climbing fiber labeling within the simple lobule and vermal lobule VIa were constructed together with zebrin-positive Purkinje cells (also based on a one in four series of sections). The plots of the individual sections were used to determine the proportion of the total number of labeled mossy fiber rosettes in the granular layer that were directly subjacent to zebrin-positive or zebrin-negative bands. Borders between zebrin bands in the molecular layer were extrapolated into the granular layer. To decide whether the distribution of labeled mossy fiber rosettes was biased toward a preferred position subjacent to either zebrin-positive or zebrin-negative bands, the surface areas of contours of the granular layer subjacent to these bands were determined and summed with Neurolucida. These data indicate that the total surface area of granular layer subjacent to zebrin-negative bands is approximately twice as large as that below zebrin-positive bands (Table 2).

Table 2.

Distribution (expressed as a percentage of the total number) of labeled mossy fiber rosettes in the granular layer subjacent to zebrin-positive and zebrin-negative bands in simple lobule and vermal lobule VIa

	C1 (AP03)	C2 (A41)
Zebrin-positive band
P1+	0.0	2.3
a+	0.6	0.2
P2+	0.1	5.3
b+	0.0	3.8
P4+	1.7	18.2
P5+	3.2	22.2
P6+	11.2	30.8
Total (%)	16.7	82.7
Fraction of granular layer subjacent to zebrin-positive bands (%)	35.4	31.3
Zebrin-negative band
P1−	1.1	0.1
a−	2.1	0.0
P2−	0.9	0.9
b−	10.8	4.1
P4−	62.7	8.6
P5−	5.7	3.6
Total (%)	83.3	17.3
Fraction of granular layer subjacent to zebrin-negative bands (%)	64.6	68.7

Data are shown for two cases: case AP03 with an injection into the C1 zone in PMD, and case A41 with an injection into the C2 zone in crus 2b (see also Fig. 6). Note that a P3+ and a P6− band are not clearly present in the simple lobule (Voogd and Ruigrok, 2004).

In selected cases, the terminal labeling of mossy and climbing fibers was also combined with a standardized surface reconstruction in which the zebrin-banding pattern was shown (Pijpers et al., 2005). Zebrin bands labeled in the sections for each case were compared with the standardized reconstruction to accurately position the observed terminal labeling on the standard map. In the figures, roman numerals indicate individual lobules, and arrows are used to indicate their apices. The zebrin-positive bands are presented in gray, and the numbers and letters in these bands refer to the zebrin-positive compartments as defined by Hawkes and Leclerc (1987) and modified by Voogd and Ruigrok (2004) and by Sugihara and Shinoda (2004). The corresponding negative bands are positioned directly lateral to the positive bands. Because the labeling was indicated in a standardized diagram, the resulting diagrams may reflect some minor qualitative differences with the 2D diagrams (compare Figs. 2, 5).

Figure 2.

Color diagrams summarizing the results of five cases with injections in the C1 zone in PMD (case AP03) (A), C1 zone in COP (case GR03) (B), C2 in PMD (case AP09) (C), C2 in COP (case 981) (D), and the D zone in PMD (case AP02) (E), as well as generalized flattened surface diagrams indicating the position of resultant cell labeling (red) in the inferior olivary complex (F). The left-hand panels show a representation of the right one-half of the unfolded and flattened surface diagram of the cerebellar cortex. The arrows and their roman numeral indicate the apex of vermal and hemispheral lobules. The injection sites are indicated by a black square and arrow. The red labeling indicates the presence of bins with labeled climbing fiber terminals in the molecular layer. The right-hand panels show a similar diagram of the whole cerebellar cortex, but now representing the granular layer. Color coding indicates the number of labeled mossy fiber rosettes in 200-μm-wide bins of the granular layer (see color bar in A). For additional details on cortical reconstruction, see Ruigrok (2003) and Materials and Methods, Analysis. For a detailed description of individual cases, see Results. I–X, Lobules I – X; β, β subnucleus; Bf, buried folium; DC, dorsal cap; dfDAO, dorsal fold of dorsal accessory olive; DMCC, dorsomedial cell column; Fl, flocculus; Pfl, paraflocculus; VLO, ventrolateral outgrowth.

Figure 5.

Distribution of labeled mossy fiber rosettes and labeled climbing fiber collaterals of four cases plotted on a standardized surface reconstruction of the zebrin pattern of Purkinje cells (Pijpers et al., 2005). Roman numerals indicate individual lobules and arrows are used to indicate their apices. The zebrin-positive bands and their continuity over the cerebellar cortex is presented in shades of gray, and the numbers and letters in these bands refer to the zebrin-positive bands from the nomenclature of Hawkes and Leclerc (1987) and modified by Voogd and Ruigrok (2004) and by Sugihara and Shinoda (2004). The corresponding negative bands lie immediately lateral to these positive bands. Labeling of both mossy and climbing fiber terminals was qualitatively entered on the standardized diagram by examining sections double labeled for zebrin and CTb and using the zebrin pattern as a reference frame. Regions in the granular layer with clustered presence of labeled mossy fiber rosettes are indicated with hatched patterns in green; climbing fiber terminal labeling is indicated in red in the same diagrams. The figurines at the bottom of each diagram show the localization of retrogradely labeled neurons in representative sections through the inferior olivary complex. For explanation of the individual diagrams, see Results, Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: relationship to the zebrin pattern. 1–7, Zebrin-positive bands P1+ to P7+; I–X, lobules I–X; Bf, buried folium; dfDAO, dorsal fold of dorsal accessory olive.

Results

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: general observations

Iontophoretic CTb injections into the cerebellar cortex of the rat typically result in small, approximately spherical, deposits of tracer (diameter, ∼500 μm) (Ruigrok, 2003; Voogd et al., 2003). Because injections were placed at a depth of 200–300 μm, they generally included the molecular layer and the underlying granular layer. The white matter was involved only to a very limited extent or not at all (Fig. 1A). Labeled parallel fibers and corresponding extensive retrograde labeling of granule cells usually obscured the boundaries of the injection site. As a result, mossy and climbing fiber labeling directly surrounding the injection site was interpreted with caution.

Figure 1.

Photomicrographs showing aspects of the CTb injection site and resultant labeling of climbing and mossy fiber collaterals in case AP03 together with a selection of plots of transverse sections through cerebellum of case AP09. A, Photomicrograph of the CTb injection site, indicated by a white circle, in the paramedian lobule. The injection was mostly restricted to the molecular and granular layers of the electrophysiologically identified C1 zone, which was verified by the presence of retrograde labeled cells in the contralateral vfDAO (B, inset). B, Photomicrograph showing part of a section of the SL and anterior lobe of the same case. Note the characteristic appearance of CTb-labeled climbing fibers in the molecular layer (between white arrowheads) and the numerous labeled mossy fiber rosettes within the granular layer (between black arrowheads). Also note that the regions with climbing fiber terminals are aligned in the mediolateral plane but that the regions with mossy fiber terminal rosettes are also found at other mediolateral positions. The inset shows retrogradely labeled cells in the dorsal accessory olive (arrow) of the contralateral inferior olive. C, Magnification of the boxed rectangle in B showing the boundary of granular and molecular layer. The arrowheads indicate some of the labeled mossy fiber rosettes that are located directly adjacent to labeled climbing fiber terminal arborizations. D, Two plots of transverse sections through the posterior and anterior cerebellum, respectively, and indicating the distribution of CTb labeling resulting from a PMD injection in the electrophysiologically identified C2 zone (case AP09). Labeled mossy fiber rosettes (small gray dots: one dot equals one rosette) and climbing fiber terminals (black dots indicated by arrows) are indicated. Scale bars: A, B, 1 mm; B, inset, 100 μm; C, 100 μm. I–X, Lobules I–X; Fl, flocculus; pf, primary fissure.

Retrograde cell labeling in the contralateral inferior olive was used to determine whether the site of injection was confined to a single cerebellar cortical zone and to identify that zone (Fig. 1B, inset, see arrow). Labeling confined mostly or wholly to the ventral fold of the dorsal accessory olive (vfDAO) was considered to be derived from the C1 zone (four cases), whereas the C2 zone (four cases) was targeted when the labeling was predominantly found in the rostral half of the medial accessory olive (MAO). In three additional cases, most labeled neurons were located in the ventral leaf of the principal olive (PO) and/or the dorsomedial group (DM) of the PO, indicating that the injection site mostly covered the D1 and/or D0 zones, respectively (Table 1). Retrograde cell labeling was also noted in several brainstem nuclei known to provide mossy fibers to cerebellar lobules VII and VIII, such as the LRn, Pn, and, more sparsely, the dorsal column nuclei, trigeminal nucleus, and reticular formation.

Because CTb is a bidirectional tracer, it was also transported to the terminal arborizations of collateral branches of the stem axons of retrogradely labeled cells, so-called collateral–collateral labeling (Chen and Aston-Jones, 1998; Ruigrok, 2003; Voogd et al., 2003). Labeled terminal rosettes of mossy fiber collaterals generally displayed a more extensive distribution over the cerebellar cortex than labeled climbing fiber collaterals (Fig. 1B,D). Apart from sending collaterals ipsilateral to the injection site, labeled mossy fiber terminals were also usually found contralaterally, arranged in an approximately symmetrical pattern to the distribution on the ipsilateral side, although the density was generally lower. Terminal arborizations of labeled climbing fiber collaterals were confined ipsilaterally within the molecular layer of both the anterior and posterior cerebellum, usually in rostrocaudally oriented strips that were usually a few and up to ∼10 Purkinje cells wide (Fig. 1B–D).

Figure 1D shows examples of transverse plots from which the 2D cortical surface (Fig. 2) as well as the 3D reconstructions (Figs. 3, 6) were derived. The distribution of all labeled mossy fiber rosettes in the granular layer are shown as gray dots, whereas the general location of labeled climbing fiber collaterals in the molecular layer are shown in black (open arrows).

Figure 3.

3D reconstructions of part of the cerebellar cortex showing the correspondence of mossy and climbing fiber collateral labeling. A, Diagrams representing case 979 with a CTb injection centered on C1 of PMD, with some involvement of C2 as judged by the distribution of retrogradely labeled neurons in the inferior olive (bottom panels). 3D reconstructions show a rostromedial (left-hand column of panels) and a rostral (right-hand column of panels) view of the ipsilateral simple lobule and adjacent parts of lobule V and crus 1. From the top down, the pial surface contour is shown in yellow, the contour indicating the Purkinje cell monolayer in cyan, with the labeled climbing fiber terminal labeling superimposed in red. Subsequently, the white matter contour (granular layer/white matter interface) is shown in dark blue, with the labeled mossy fiber rosettes superimposed (green; every dot represents a single rosette) and the climbing fiber terminals superimposed (red) in the molecular layer. Finally, the bottom panels indicate labeled mossy fiber rosettes and climbing fiber terminals only. Note that a strip of labeled mossy fiber rosettes (indicated by a double arrow), which in addition also are found at other, nonadjacent, locations (single arrows), closely matches the climbing fiber labeling. B, Similar diagrams as shown in A showing the paraflocculus of case 980 with a injection that was centered on D1 of PMD as was judged by the distribution of labeled neurons in the ventral leaf of PO (bottom panels). The left-hand panels depict the paraflocculus seen from a caudal dorsolateral view, whereas the right-hand panels show the paraflocculus from a rostral dorsolateral view. In the latter view, the discontinuity of labeling is caused by the intermittent, nonplotted, sections (for additional details on preparing the 3D reconstructions, see Materials and Methods). Note that three strip-like accumulations of labeled mossy fiber rosettes were noted (arrows), the middle of which was accompanied by labeled climbing fibers (double arrow). V, Lobule V; dfDAO, dorsal fold of dorsal accessory olive; DMCC, dorsomedial cell column; VLO, ventrolateral outgrowth.

Figure 6.

Rostral view of three-dimensional color reconstructions of part of the simple lobule of cases AP03 (A) and A41 (B) showing the correspondence of mossy and climbing fiber collateral labeling in relation to the pattern of zebrin-positive Purkinje cells (shown in brown; other conventions are similar to those of Fig. 3). A, In case AP03, the injection site was confined to the C1 zone of PMD as was evident by labeling of olivary neurons in the medial part of the vfDAO (bottom of panel). In SL, labeled climbing fiber collaterals are found in the P3− and P4− bands relating to the C1 and C3 zones (Pijpers et al., 2005). Labeled mossy fibers rosettes are found subjacent to these labeled climbing fibers and, in addition, are also found at other and nonadjacent locations (open arrows). Note that most mossy fiber labeling is positioned subjacent to zebrin-negative areas. B, In case A41, the injection site was centered on the C2 zone of crus 2b and resulted in labeled olivary neurons in the rostral MAO. In SL, labeled climbing fiber collaterals are found within the P4+ band that relates to the C2 zone (Pijpers et al., 2005). Labeled mossy fibers rosettes are found subjacent to these labeled climbing fibers and, in addition, are also found at other nonadjacent locations (open arrows). Note that many of them are related to zebrin-positive areas. P1+ to P6+, a, and b refer to zebrin bands (Voogd and Ruigrok, 2004). VI a, Lobule VI a; SL a, b, simple lobule a, b. Olivary panels are arranged from rostral (bottom) to caudal (top).

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: the C1 zone

Figure 2 illustrates five cases with injections into the C1 zone (Fig. 2A,B), the C2 zone (Fig. 2C,D), and the D zone (Fig. 2E) plotted onto 2D surface maps. In case AP03 (Fig. 2A), the CTb injection involved the C1 zone of the PMD, whereas C1 of the COP was injected in case GR03 (Fig. 2B). The injection in case AP03 was guided by previous recording of the distribution of climbing fiber field potentials on the surface of the cerebellum, evoked by ipsilateral forelimb stimulation. These responses identify the mediolateral boundaries of the C1 zone in PMD (cf. Atkins and Apps, 1997). The exclusive C1 zone location of this injection site was confirmed by the presence of retrogradely labeled neurons confined to the medial aspect of vfDAO (Fig. 2F, top panel, flattened surface reconstruction of olivary subnuclei). Figure 2A, left-hand panel, shows the position of labeled climbing fibers on an unfolded surface map of the cerebellar cortex (Ruigrok, 2003; Pijpers et al., 2005). From this diagram, it is evident that the climbing fiber collaterals were distributed to the paravermal cerebellum as continuous strips or, occasionally, as isolated patches that fell within a longitudinal band of cortex that was aligned with the injection site (Fig. 2A, shown in black, arrow). More specifically, from the injection site caudalward, labeled climbing fibers were noted in the caudal one-half of PMD (lobule VII) and rostralward in crus 2b, crus 1a, SL, and caudal one-half of lobule V. In Figure 2A, right-hand panel, the distribution of labeled mossy fiber rosettes is depicted on the same 2D surface map in color-coded density profiles (Ruigrok, 2003). In the ipsilateral one-half of the cerebellar cortex, the overall distribution pattern of the mossy fiber terminals shows accumulations within three mediolateral regions. Isolated patches of labeled mossy fibers were present within the vermis of lobules VI and VII and IX and, as a more or less continuous strip, in the hemisphere of PMD and crus 2, but were also noted in SL and crus 1. Most terminals, however, were located within the paravermal cerebellum, distributed mainly within lobules V–rostral VIII. The pattern of vermal and paravermal mossy fiber terminal labeling is approximately mirrored on the contralateral side at a lower density. However, contralateral labeling was not observed in lobules V and IX or in the lateral-most part of the hemisphere. When comparing the distributions of climbing fiber and mossy fiber terminal labeling, it is also apparent that at all sites where climbing fiber collaterals are situated, a high density of labeled mossy fiber rosettes is also usually present in the subjacent granular layer (Fig. 2A, compare the location of labeling in the left- and right-hand maps).

In case GR03 (Fig. 2B), the injection, which was based on anatomical coordinates, was made into the hindlimb-related part of the C1 zone in COP (Atkins and Apps, 1997). Retrogradely labeled neurons in the contralateral inferior olive were confined to the lateral part of vfDAO (Fig. 2F, second panel), confirming that the injection site was restricted to the C1 zone. Although some labeled climbing fibers entered the dorsolateral aspect of lobule IX, most labeled climbing fiber collaterals emerged from the injection site toward the rostral part of lobule VIII. In the anterior lobe, a conspicuous and continuous rostrocaudally oriented strip of labeled climbing fibers was present in the paravermal cortex stretching from lobules V to II (Figs. 2B, left-hand panel; compare Fig. 5). Labeled mossy fiber rosettes (Fig. 2B, right-hand panel) were abundantly present throughout the mediolateral extent of lobule VIII ipsilaterally, whereas they were confined to vermal and paravermal parts contralaterally. In addition, patches of labeled rosettes were observed in isolated vermal, paravermal, and hemispheral regions of lobules II–V ipsilaterally, and in mirror-like image in vermal and paravermal regions of the contralateral one-half of the anterior lobe. In contrast to the injection into the C1 zone in PMD, virtually no labeled rosettes were encountered in lobules VI and VII, including the hemispheral regions of SL, crus 1, crus 2, and PMD. Again, the correspondence between the distribution of climbing fiber collaterals and mossy fiber collaterals is striking.

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: the C2 zone

Figure 2, C (case AP09) and D (case 981), illustrates two examples of CTb injections that were centered on the C2 zone in the PMD and in the COP, respectively (Table 1). The C2 location of both injection sites was confirmed by the fact that most of the retrogradely labeled neurons in the inferior olive were observed in the rostral part of the MAO (Fig. 2F, third and fourth panels). The few additionally labeled neurons in the medial part of vfDAO in case AP09 suggest, however, some involvement of the neighboring C1 or C3 zone. The distribution of labeled climbing fiber collaterals in this case was found within several narrow and isolated regions of the paravermis within crus 2, SL, and lobule V, which, in general were well aligned along the rostrocaudal axis with the injection site (Fig. 2C, left-hand panel). Labeled mossy fiber rosettes (Fig. 2C, right-hand panel) were mostly present in the paravermal regions of the same lobules (i.e., lobules V, VI, and VII). However, patches of labeled terminals were also found in the hemispheral region of SL, both crura, lobule VIII and in the caudal parts of the proximal paraflocculus. Some vermal patches were noted in lobules V–VII and IXa. Contralateral labeling was mostly confined to paravermal regions. Note again that all places with climbing fiber terminal labeling also contained labeled mossy fiber rosettes in the subjacent granular layer.

The same observation was made for case 981 in which the very small injection was centered on the C2 zone in the COP (Fig. 2D). However, here, areas of overlap of labeled climbing and labeled mossy fibers was found in paravermal regions of lobules III–V and in lobule VIII and proximal part of the paraflocculus. Isolated patches without corresponding climbing fiber labeling were also noted ipsilaterally in lobule II, lateral crus 1, and in vermal and lateral parts of the rostral one-half of lobule VIII. In this case, virtually no labeled mossy fiber rosettes were observed on the contralateral side.

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: D0–D1 zones

Figure 2E shows the results from an injection that aimed to target the C3 zone in PMD, but because most retrogradely labeled neurons in the olive were located in the DM group and the ventral leaf of the PO (Fig. 2F, bottom panel), it is likely that the injection deviated laterally to involve the D1 and D0 zones, respectively (Voogd et al., 2003). A few neurons in the medial DAO suggest, however, some incorporation of the C3 zone. The distribution of labeled climbing fiber collaterals was rather dispersed mediolaterally, involving paravermal and hemispheral locations, presumably because of the involvement of multiple zones (Fig. 2E, left-hand panel). Similarly, labeled mossy fibers were also widespread and were located in vermal, paravermal, and hemispheral regions of lobules V–VII. Note, however, that the hemispheral component did not have a bilateral counterpart (Fig. 2E, right-hand panel). Importantly, and despite the scattered distribution of climbing fiber collaterals, they were always colocalized with labeled mossy fiber rosettes.

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: 3D reconstructions

The spatial distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals relative to one another can be more directly appreciated in a 3D representation. Figure 3A shows a 3D reconstruction of lobule V, SL, and the anterior part of crus 1 for case 979 (see also Fig. 5). In this experiment, the injection site was mostly confined to the C1 zone in PMD (Fig. 4A), as was confirmed by the majority of labeled olive neurons being located in the medial aspect of vfDAO (Fig. 4A, bottom panel; Table 1). Cerebellar surface contours (yellow), Purkinje cell layer (cyan), and white matter contours (dark blue) indicate foliations together with the location of labeled climbing fiber collaterals (red) in the molecular layer and individual labeled mossy fiber rosettes (green). In this example, a single more or less continuous, rostrocaudally oriented, strip of collateral climbing fiber labeling could be followed from the caudal bank of lobule V into the depths of the primary fissure and then into lobules a and b of SL. Along this entire route, the location of labeled climbing fibers is closely tracked by labeled mossy fiber rosettes (double arrow), which, in addition, also form isolated strip-like clusters medial and lateral to the labeled climbing fibers (arrows). Note that, although the strip of labeled mossy fibers is almost continuous throughout the depths of the primary fissure, the patches of mossy fiber rosettes at the lateral border of SL are not continuous and are found only at the apex of the two SL folia.

Figure 4.

Relationship of injection sites and collateral labeling of climbing and mossy fibers with the intrinsic zebrin pattern of Purkinje cells. A, Diagram showing the approximate site and size of the CTb injections used in this study on a reconstruction of the posterior view of the rat cerebellum stained for zebrin (Voogd et al., 2003; Pijpers and Ruigrok, 2006). Note that only the positive zebrin bands are indicated by their respective numbers and letters. Patch “e” is shaded light gray in accordance with the lightly zebrin-positive nature of this patch. B, Photomicrograph taken from case A41, depicting zebrin-positive band P4+ (arrow) in SL. C, Detail of boxed area in B. Note that darkly stained climbing fiber collaterals (white arrowheads) are found over the medial part of P4+ (width of band indicated by black arrowheads). The arrows point to labeled mossy fiber rosettes, which are found subjacent to P4+. D, E, Photomicrographs taken from case AP03 showing the relationship of mossy fiber rosettes with negative zebrin bands in the posterior cerebellum. Zebrin-positive bands and band P5− are labeled (D, arrows). Note that, in E (showing the boxed area of D in higher magnification), labeled rosettes (arrows) are present subjacent to several zebrin-negative areas. Also note that no climbing fiber collaterals were labeled in the zebrin-negative bands. Scale bars: A, 1 mm; C, 100 μm; B, D, E, 250 μm. VII, VIII, IX, Cerebellar lobules VII, VIII, IX; BF, buried folium; PFL, paraflocculus.

Figure 3B shows a 3D reconstruction for a different case (case 980), depicting labeling of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminations in the paraflocculus. Retrograde cell labeling of olivary neurons in the ventral leaf of PO indicated that the injection site was located in the D1 zone in PMD (Fig. 4A). Three strip-like accumulations of labeled mossy fibers are present, which, in accordance with the specific foliation of the paraflocculus, run essentially in a mediolateral direction. The middle of these three strips is precisely accompanied by labeled climbing fiber collaterals.

Distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collateral terminals: relationship to the zebrin pattern

To further describe how the non-climbing fiber-related mossy collaterals were distributed over the cerebellar cortex, labeling was also analyzed in sections that were stained for zebrin II immunohistochemistry. In Figure 4, the injection sites of all 11 cases are shown on the right side of a generalized caudal view of the cerebellar cortex in which the zebrin pattern has also been indicated. Note that, in each case, the injection site was located in either a zebrin-positive or a zebrin-negative band. For example, in case A41, the injection site was considered to be within the confines of P5+ in crus 2b. Photomicrographs in Figure 4B and, in detail, in C, illustrate how the resultant collateral labeling of climbing fiber terminations (C, white arrowheads) correlate with the zebrin-positive band P4+ in the caudal part of SL and that labeled mossy fiber rosettes are also confined to regions of the granule cell layer below the P4+ band (C, black arrows). In comparison, the photomicrographs in Figure 4D, and an enlargement shown in Figure 4E, are taken from case AP10, which was centered on the zebrin-negative band P5a− in PMD. Mossy fiber rosettes (black arrows) can be seen to be mostly located subjacent to zebrin-negative areas. Note that, in Figure 4, D and E, no labeled climbing fiber collaterals were present in the molecular layer.

Figure 5 details for four representative cases the relationship between the distribution of labeled mossy and climbing fiber collaterals (hatched green and solid red, respectively), and the pattern of zebrin-positive and -negative Purkinje cells as shown in a generalized cortical surface map (for details, see Pijpers et al., 2005). A black circle in each diagram represents the approximate location of the injection site in each case. Parts of the diagram representing the flocculus, paraflocculus, and the lateral part of crus 1 are not shown, because these regions are fully zebrin-positive and the illustrated cases only displayed very limited mossy fiber collateral labeling in these areas.

From these diagrams, it can be appreciated that C1 zone injection sites (cases 979 and AP10) resulted in accumulations of labeled mossy fiber rosettes predominantly below zebrin-negative Purkinje cells, whereas in cases with C2 zone injection sites (e.g., case AP09) they are mostly found in relation to zebrin-positive bands. The injection site in case GR03 was determined to be within the C1 zone in COP; however, it appeared to be centered on the rather weakly zebrin positive patch e1+. Climbing fiber collaterals were mostly distributed to the also weakly zebrin-positive band P3+ in the anterior lobe. Both e1+ and P3+ and their bordering zebrin-negative bands have been shown to be located fully within the C1 zone (Voogd et al., 2003; Sugihara and Shinoda, 2004). Also, most additional mossy fiber patches in the anterior lobe were related to zebrin-negative bands. For these reasons, both zebrin patch e1+ as well as anterior lobe band P3+ may be considered to be constituting a specific part of zebrin-negative territory. Note that, regardless of the location of the injection site in zebrin-negative or -positive bands, all cases demonstrated at least some patches of mossy fibers within the lateral-most zebrin-positive band.

The relationship between the intrinsic zebrin pattern of Purkinje cells and the distribution of climbing and mossy fiber collaterals is further illustrated in Figure 6, which shows 3D reconstructions of the SL for two cases. Case AP03 (Fig. 6A) had an injection that was centered on the C1 zone in PMD (also shown in Fig. 2A), whereas the injection in case A41 (Fig. 6B) involved the C2 zone in crus 2b. In the top two panels in both Figure 6, A and B, the Purkinje cell layer/granule cell layer interface is shown in cyan together with the labeled climbing fiber collaterals in the molecular layer (red). Zebrin-positive Purkinje cells (yellow) have been added in the second pair of panels. In the third pair of panels, the location of labeled mossy fiber rosettes have been added (green) and all three classes of labeling are shown in relation to the white matter contours (dark blue) to indicate foliations. In the bottom two cerebellar representations, only the labeled climbing and mossy fiber terminals are shown either with or without zebrin-positive Purkinje cells, respectively. Finally, the retrograde cell labeling within the inferior olive is shown to indicate the zonal localization of the injection site. Note that, in case AP03, strips of labeled climbing fiber collaterals are found in zebrin-negative regions on either side of the P4+ band, representing the C1 and C3 zones (Voogd et al., 2003). In contrast, in case A41, labeled climbing fiber collaterals were found only in the P4+ band, which represents the C2 zone (Voogd et al., 2003). In both cases, labeled mossy fiber collaterals were most abundant directly subjacent to the labeled climbing fiber collaterals. However, collections of labeled mossy fiber rosettes were found in other regions as well. Although not exclusively (note labeled mossy fibers within P6+ in both cases), these mossy fibers were mostly restricted to zebrin-negative bands in case AP03 and to zebrin-positive bands in case A41.

This finding was supported by quantitative analysis. Table 2 shows for the two representative cases the proportion of labeled mossy fiber rosettes in relation to zebrin-positive and -negative bands (for further details of the analysis, see Materials and Methods). From inspection of Table 2, it is evident that, subjacent to all zebrin-positive bands (apart from satellite band a+), the percentage of labeled rosettes was always greater in case A41 (C2 injection) than in case AP03 (C1 injection), and that this situation was essentially reversed for mossy fiber labeling subjacent to zebrin-negative bands. It is also noteworthy that, in the C1 zone case, the only zebrin-positive band with a fair amount (11.2%) of labeled rosettes in the subjacent granular layer was P6+. Distributions of mossy fiber collaterals to P6+ were also noted in other cases with injections into the C1 zone (Fig. 5), highlighting the atypical status of this particular hemispheral zebrin band.

In summary, mossy fiber and climbing fiber collaterals labeled after injections centered on the C1 zone in COP or PMD are mostly found in zebrin-negative bands (with the inclusion of the weakly zebrin-positive P3+ band in the anterior lobe). In contrast, mossy fiber and climbing fiber collaterals labeled after injections centered on the C2 zone are mostly located in zebrin-positive bands.

Origin of mossy fibers to different lobules and zones

The results above indicate that the distribution pattern of mossy fiber rosettes associated with the C1 zone differs from that of the C2 zone. However, lobular differences may also be present. To examine the possibility of zonal and lobular differences more fully, the distribution of retrograde cell labeling in two major sources of mossy fibers was studied: the Pn [based mainly on data recently published by Pijpers and Ruigrok (2006)] and also the LRn.

In Figure 7, the distributions of retrogradely labeled cells in three-dimensional views of both the ipsilateral and contralateral LRn are shown for all cases studied. Cases are presented with respect to the location of the injection site in the C1 zone in PMD or COP, the C2 zone in crus 2, PMD, or COP, and the D0/D1 zones in PMD. For each case, a predominantly caudal (at 10° dorsal from the horizontal axis) as well as a predominantly dorsal view (at 70° dorsal from the horizontal axis) is shown, in which similarities and differences in distribution of labeled neurons between cases can be easily appreciated.

Figure 7.

Overview of the distribution of labeled precerebellar neurons in the LRn. Labeled neurons are depicted in 3D figurines prepared from plots of the ipsilateral (right side) and contralateral (left side) LRn made from a one of four series of transverse sections. Every dot represents a labeled neuron. Both a caudal (10° dorsal from horizontal plane) as well as a predominantly dorsal view (70° dorsal from horizontal plane) was prepared of each case. Cases are grouped according to lobule and zone in which the injection was centered (compare Fig. 4A). The bottom right-hand panels show orientation of the figurines of ipsilateral and contralateral LRn in relation to the ventral surface of the medulla and the central canal/fourth ventricle. Different subdivisions of the LRn complex are indicated for case 981 (bottom center panel). For additional explanation, see Results, Origin of mossy fibers to different lobules and zones. li, Linear subdivision; mc, magnocellular subdivision; pc, parvicellular subdivision; sub5, subtrigeminal subdivision.

For the C1-PMD and C2-PMD cases, labeled cells were distributed throughout the rostrocaudal extent of LRn, taking up mostly dorsal positions in its magnocellular and subtrigeminal parts, whereas many labeled neurons were also observed within its linear subdivision [for definition of subdivisions, see Newman and Ginsberg (1992); Ruigrok (2004)]. Most labeled neurons were observed ipsilaterally (Table 1), but labeled cells were also located at similar positions in the contralateral LRn (except the caudal aspect of the nucleus, which was virtually devoid of labeled neurons). Apart from a somewhat more pronounced involvement of the caudal one-third of the LRn in the C1 zone cases, no clear differences were observed between C1 and C2 injections in PMD. In comparison, in the D0/D1 cases, the main magnocellular and parvicellular parts of the LRn contained only a few labeled cells. Most labeled cells were found in the subtrigeminal and linear subdivisions. The distribution of labeled neurons in case A41 (C2 zone in crus 2b) was very similar to that of the three D0/D1 cases.

Both injections in COP (GR03-C1 and 981-C2) resulted in patterns of cell labeling that differed from the PMD cases. In both cases, labeled cells were mostly found in the ventrolateral aspect of the nucleus (within the parvocellular and subtrigeminal subdivisions) with a more prominent involvement of the caudal one-half of contralateral LRn. However, there were no labeled cells in the linear subdivision. Like the C1 and C2 cases in PMD, some zonal differences may also be present because the caudal tip of the nucleus was more heavily involved in GR03 (a C1 zone case) compared with case 981 (a C2 zone case).

A comparison of the number and laterality of labeled neurons observed within the Pn and LRn is presented in Figure 8(also see Table 1). Figure 8A indicates the relationship between numbers of labeled cells in the inferior olive and those within LRn and Pn. The numbers of neurons labeled within the LRn and inferior olive are positively correlated (r = 0.87; p < 0.005). Assuming, for different cases, a similar spread of tracer within the molecular layer and subjacent granular layer and a uniform projection density for climbing fibers (cf. Herrero et al., 2002), this suggests that the contribution from LRn is mostly related to the size of the injection site rather than to the identity of the injected cortical lobule or zone. However, when labeled cell numbers in Pn and the olive were compared, no significant correlation was noted (r = 0.47; p > 0.05), implying that other factors such as cortical (zonal) location may be more important factors than injection site size in determining involvement of Pn neurons. This is supported by the finding that cases with an injection in the D0/D1 zone in PMD have a significantly higher Pn/LRn ratio compared with either C2 or C1 injections in PMD or COP (for both comparisons: two-sided t test assuming unequal variances, p < 0.05). A significantly higher Pn/LRn ratio was also found for the C2 zone group of cases with respect to the C1 zone group (two-sided t test, p < 0.05). Finally, no obvious distinction could be found in the numbers of labeled neurons located in ipsilateral or contralateral LRn (Fig. 8C). For the Pn, however, the number of ipsilaterally labeled neurons tended to decrease when the injection was placed in more lateral zones (i.e., resulting in a higher contralateral/ipsilateral ratio) (Fig. 8D). An exception is presented by case GR03 in which the C1 zone injection in COP resulted in ∼40 times as many cells in the contralateral Pn as in the ipsilateral Pn. This contrasts with the more prominent bilateral nature of the LRn projection in this case.

Figure 8.

A comparison of the number and laterality of labeled neurons observed within the Pn and LRn. A, Graph depicting the relationship between number of labeled olivary neurons and number of labeled neurons in Pn and LRn. Note that the numbers of labeled LRn and IO neurons correlate better than the numbers of labeled Pn and IO neurons, indicating that the involvement of both precerebellar centers to provide mossy fiber afferents to the granular layer subjacent a particular climbing fiber zone differs from each other. B, Graph depicting the contribution of Pn and LRn to a particular injection site. Note that injections into the D0/D1 zone of PMD results in a much higher ratio of labeled neurons in Pn and LRn than in cases in which the injection was centered on C1. C, D, Graphs comparing the participation of ipsilaterally versus contralaterally labeled neurons in LRn (C) and Pn (D). Note that, for the LRn, the ratio of the number of ipsilaterally and contralaterally labeled neurons varies only marginally between different cases, whereas notable differences are observed for the Pn. Data for Pn labeling are in part taken from Pijpers and Ruigrok (2006).

Discussion

The present study makes four key observations regarding interconnectivity between functionally related parts of the cerebellar cortex: (1) mossy fiber collaterals mostly distribute to the same cerebellar lobules as climbing fiber collaterals; (2) collaterals of labeled climbing fibers are always accompanied by labeled mossy fiber terminals in the subjacent granular layer; (3) additional mossy fiber collaterals terminate in specific, nonadjacent, strip-like regions, which usually have the same zebrin signature as the source of the collateralization; and (4) mossy fiber projections to different cortical zones are accompanied by significant differences in projection densities from two major brainstem sources. The present results therefore indicate that the mossy fiber and climbing fiber afferent systems are closely aligned and that this is a consistent and widespread feature of cerebellar cortical organization in the rat.

Because of its uniform structure, functional localization within the cerebellar cortex critically depends on the organization of its afferent systems (for review, see Manni and Petrosini, 2004). On the one hand, mossy fiber input is usually characterized by multiple representations of the same body parts distributed as a mosaic of patches within the cerebellar cortex [the fractionated somatotopy of Welker (1987)]; however, note that some aspects of mossy fiber organization have also been described in terms of longitudinal strips (Ekerot and Larson, 1980; Serapide et al., 2001). In contrast, climbing fiber inputs with similar receptive field characteristics adhere to parasagittally arranged zones in which finer microzonal subdivisions can be recognized (Oscarsson, 1979; Apps and Garwicz, 2005). Perhaps not surprisingly, then, physiological studies disagree on the extent to which the somatotopic pattern of mossy and climbing fibers are aligned to each other (Garwicz et al., 1998; Brown and Bower, 2001). Resolving this disagreement is important for understanding basic cerebellar processing (Apps and Garwicz, 2005), and the present study helps inform this debate by providing the most comprehensive description to date of the distribution of functionally related climbing and mossy fiber collaterals.

Cerebellar somatotopy and collateralization of mossy and climbing fiber afferents

Climbing fiber somatotopic representations of the same body parts have been recognized in regions of the anterior as well as within the posterior cerebellum (for reviews, see Manni and Petrosini, 2004; Apps and Garwicz, 2005). In rat, at the zonal level, representations of the ipsilateral forelimb are present in the C1 and C3 zones of PMD and SL, whereas bilateral forelimb representations are present in the C2 zone of the same lobules (Atkins and Apps, 1997; Pardoe and Apps, 2002). Likewise, COP harbors zones that are characterized by ipsilateral (C1) and bilateral (C2) climbing fiber inputs from the hindlimb (Atkins and Apps, 1997), and these body representations are likely to have counterparts in the anterior lobe (Jorntell et al., 2000). The anatomical substrate for this homology has been demonstrated by Voogd et al. (2003), and was confirmed in the present study. Indeed, climbing fibers collateralize from zones in PMD and COP to target similar zones in SL and anterior lobe, respectively (Pardoe and Apps, 2002). Here, we extend this finding by showing that mossy fiber collaterals, labeled from the same injection site, also exhibit a similar somatotopic distribution. Collaterals labeled from COP mostly reach the anterior lobe, whereas PMD injections result in labeled mossy fibers within SL and the crura. The present findings therefore strongly imply that these particular cerebellar regions (COP and the anterior lobe; PMD, SL, and the crura) function in close association with each other.

The distribution of mossy fiber collaterals, however, was always more widespread than the climbing fiber collaterals arising from the same injection site, being clustered within multiple, essentially longitudinal patterns within vermal, paravermal, and hemispheral regions of the targeted lobules. These patterns are usually mimicked contralaterally with the notable exception of patches located in the lateral-most parts of the ipsilateral cortex. The former suggests that the same information conveyed via the mossy fiber system targets a number of different cortical zones bilaterally, perhaps for the regulation of whole-body movements. The latter suggests that lateral zones are more concerned with unilateral inputs.

Collateralization and zebrin pattern

The relationship between the organization of the olivocerebellar climbing fiber system and the zebrin pattern of Purkinje cells has recently been described in considerable detail (Sugihara and Shinoda, 2004; Voogd and Ruigrok, 2004; Pijpers et al., 2005). Using 2D and 3D reconstruction methods and quantitative analysis, the present observations significantly extend these previous findings by showing that the distribution of subpopulations of mossy fiber rosettes with a common lobular and zonal target (but with heterogeneous origin), also show close relationships to that of the overlying zebrin pattern. If the rather weakly positive zebrin patch “e+” of COP and zone P3+ of the anterior lobe are considered as part of a zebrin-negative territory (see Results), then mossy fiber collaterals labeled from injections confined to the C1 zone preferentially target regions of granular layer subjacent to zebrin-negative Purkinje cells, whereas C2 zone injections result in labeled mossy fiber rosettes below zebrin-positive regions (Gravel and Hawkes, 1990; Ji and Hawkes, 1994), Our observations therefore underscore the functional differentiation of zebrin-negative versus zebrin-positive Purkinje cells (Voogd et al., 2003; Sugihara and Shinoda, 2004; Voogd and Ruigrok, 2004) and suggest that the organization of the granular layer correlates to this patterning. Interestingly, some studies have indicated that zebrin-positive and -negative Purkinje cells may operate differently (Nagao et al., 1997; Wadiche and Jahr, 2005).

Somatotopy, zones, and origin of mossy fibers

Mossy fibers terminating in COP and PMD convey somatosensory information from the periphery by way of the spinal cord, dorsal column nuclei, trigeminal nuclei, and/or LRn. In addition, preprocessed information from the cerebral cortex may reach these areas via pontine relays (for review, see Ruigrok, 2004). Consequently, every CTb injection site will result in retrogradely labeled neurons located within a specific combination of these precerebellar centers. We have concentrated our analysis on the LRn and the Pn (Pijpers and Ruigrok, 2006) and show that the distribution of neurons within both structures correlates closely with the lobular identity of the injection site. However, at best only subtle differences were noted in the distribution of labeled neurons arising from injections targeted at different zones within the same lobule. Because the collateral distribution of mossy fibers is strongly affected by the identity of the injected zone (see below), this suggests that either (1) cells within LRn and Pn projecting to different zones are intermingled in each structure or (2) a subnuclear topical organization is present that could not be detected in the present experiments. The clearest differences we found related to the proportion of retrogradely labeled neurons arising from Pn as compared with LRn targeting different zones. These differences suggest at least a partly independent origin of mossy fiber terminals to the C1, C2, and D1/D0 zones. Thus, highly specific combinations of mossy fibers appear to distribute terminals to particular lobules and zones of the cerebellar cortex. Future experiments using multiple tracer techniques will be required to determine whether the observed zonal differences in collateralization patterns relate to any differences in topography in projections arising from the various precerebellar sources.

Congruence of climbing and mossy fiber collaterals

Physiologically, convergence of mossy and climbing fiber receptive fields was first demonstrated by Eccles and collaborators (Eccles et al., 1968; Kitai et al., 1969). More recently, micromapping techniques have also focused on the importance of convergence of both afferent systems. Indeed, both for cat forelimb (Garwicz et al., 1998; Apps and Garwicz, 2005) as well as for rat perioral regions (Brown and Bower, 2001) a general similarity of the receptive fields of mossy fibers and climbing fibers has been noted in localized regions of the cerebellar cortex. The present data provide evidence of the anatomical substrate for this functional congruence. However, the functional implications of such a related distribution of mossy and climbing fibers remains to be resolved [for example, see Ekerot and Jorntell (2001) compared with Brown and Bower (2001); Lu et al. (2005)].

Concluding remarks

The present study shows that labeled mossy fiber rosettes closely accompany collaterals of climbing fibers labeled from the same zonal location. A similar, but more tentative observation was made by Voogd et al. (2003) and was also mentioned for the vestibulocerebellum (Ruigrok, 2003). Such an arrangement implies that the specific combination of mossy and climbing fiber inputs processed at a given locus within the cerebellar cortex (i.e., within PMD or COP) may be repeated (at least in part) in other cerebellar regions (such as SL or anterior lobe). This finding is consistent with the idea that the cerebellum is modular and that basic operational units are formed by multizonal microcomplexes (i.e., two or more microzones within different parts of the cortex with common climbing fiber input have output to a common group of cerebellar nuclear neurons) (Apps and Garwicz, 2005). Although, originally, this was thought to enable parallel processing of information derived from different combinations of mossy fibers, the present results extend this hypothesis to suggest that microcomplexes also make use of some common mossy fiber inputs.