The primary vestibular projection to the cerebellar cortex in the pigeon (Columba livia)
The cerebellar cortex of the pigeon receiving direct vestibular afferents was delineated by anterograde transport of (/sup 3/H)-amino acids injected into the vestibular nerve. Labelled mossy fiber rosettes in the granular layer were concentrated in lobule X (nodulus) and to a lesser extent, in the ventral portion of lobule IXd (uvula and paraflocculus). A few solitary labelled rosettes were also found in more dorsal portions of lobule IX, as well as in the anterior lobe between lobule II and IV. The lingula remained unlabelled. Discrete injections of (/sup 3/H)-leucine into the cristae of each of the three semicircular canals or the utricular macula yielded a similar distribution of fewer labelled rosettes. A few primary mossy fiber terminals labelled after cochlear injections are attributed to afferents from the lagenar macula. Since effective diffusion of label from the injection site was excluded by controls, it is concluded that projection of individual canal and macula nerves to the vestibulocerebellar cortex is not topographically separated. It is proposed that this extensive convergence of various afferents is required by the cerebellum to compute precise and directionally specific control signals during head rotation in all conceivable planes.
- Research Organization:
- Laboratory of Otoneurology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- OSTI ID:
- 5546852
- Journal Information:
- J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States), Vol. 216:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
AMINO ACIDS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
BIRDS
CEREBELLUM
LEUCINE
NERVES
VESTIBULAR APPARATUS
ANIMALS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
SENSE ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques
550801 - Morphology- Tracer Techniques