Common fur and mystacial vibrissae parallel sensory pathways: /sup 14/C 2-deoxyglucose and WGA-HRP studies in the rat

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902700312· OSTI ID:7140987

Sharp, F R; Gonzalez, M F; Morgan, C W; Morton, M T; Sharp, J W

Stimulation of mystacial vibrissae in rows A,B, and C increased (14C) 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake in spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis (Sp5c) mostly in ventral portions of laminae III-IV with less activation of II and V. Stimulation of common fur above the whiskers mainly activated lamina II, with less activation in deeper layers. The patterns of activation were compatible with an inverted head, onion skin Sp5c somatotopy. Wheatgerm Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase (WGA-HRP) injections into common fur between mystacial vibrissae rows A-B and B-C led to anterograde transganglionic labeling only of Sp5c, mainly of lamina II with less label in layer V, and very sparse label in III and IV. WGA-HRP skin injections appear to primarily label small fibers, which along with larger fibers, were metabolically activated during common fur stimulation. Mystacial vibrissae stimulation increased 2DG uptake in ventral ipsilateral spinal trigeminal nuclei pars interpolaris (Sp5i) and oralis (Sp5o) and principal trigeminal sensory nucleus (Pr5). Common fur stimulation above the whiskers slightly increased 2DG uptake in ventral Sp5i, Sp5o, and possibly Pr5. The most dorsal aspect of the ventroposteromedial (VPM) nucleus of thalamus was activated contralateral to whisker stimulation. Stimulation of the common fur dorsal to the whiskers activated a region of dorsal VPM caudal to the VPM region activated during whisker stimulation. This is consistent with previous data showing that ventral whiskers and portions of the face are represented rostrally in VPM, and more dorsal whiskers and dorsal portions of the face are represented progressively more caudally in VPM. Mystacial vibrissae stimulation activated the contralateral primary sensory SI barrelfield cortex and a separate region in the second somatosensory SII cortex.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7140987
• Journal Information: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 270:3; ISSN JCNEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL NUCLEI
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
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GLUCOSE
HAIR
HEXOSES
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MAMMALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RATS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
SKIN
SOMATIC CELLS
STIMULI
THALAMUS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES