Phrenic motoneuron morphology in the neonatal rat.

The morphology of neonatal rat phrenic motoneurons was studied following retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase, which resulted in Golgi-like fills of phrenic motoneuron somata and dendrites. At birth, these neurons have well-developed dendritic trees with many characteristics described for phrenic motoneurons in the adult rat. The dendrites form tightly fasciculated bundles that emerge from the phrenic nucleus primarily along four axes: ventromedial, ventrolateral, dorsolateral, and rostral/caudal, with smaller and more variable projections directly lateral and ventral. Although sparse, some dendritic appendages were also present, and in a few animals, somata clustering was apparent. The most significant difference between adult and neonatal rat phrenic motoneurons is in the extent to which medially and laterally projecting dendrites extend beyond the borders of the ipsilateral gray matter. In the neonate, unlike the adult, these dendrites project extensively past the gray/white border to the edge of the hemicord. Ventromedial dendrites occasionally cross to the contralateral ventral horn in the ventral white commissure and laterally projecting dendrites could be seen reaching the edge of the cord, turning and traveling rostrally or caudally for up to 100 microns. Phrenic motoneurons are not unique in having long dendrites at birth. A brief comparative study showed that neonatal cervical, thoracic, and lumbar motoneurons also have long dendrites that project to the medial and lateral borders of the hemicord.