Olivary projections from the mesodiencephalic structures in the cat studied by means of axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and tritiated amino acids.

By means of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and autoradiographic methods, olivary projections from mesodiencephalic structures were studied in the cat. Following HRP injections in various parts of the inferior olive, many cells were labeled ipsilaterally in the nucleus of Darkschewitsch, the nucleus accessorius medialis of Bechterew, the nucleus of the fields of Forel, and the subnucleus dorsomedialis and ventrolateralis of the parvocellular red nucleus. Some labeled cells also occurred ipsilaterally in the suprarubral reticular formation and a few labeled cells in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal. After injection of tritiated amino acids in different parts of the mesodiencephalic region mentioned above, labeled fibers were found in different parts of the inferior olive, presenting a high degree of the topographic correlation within the mesodiencephalo-olivary projection, which was exclusively ipsilateral. That is, the nucleus of Darkschewitsch was found to project to the rostral half of the medial accessory olive and the dorsomedial cell column. There was mediolateral topographic relation in this projection. The nucleus accessorius medialis of Bechterew was found to project to the ventral lamella and the lateral part of the dorsal lamella as well as to small rostromedial part of the caudal half of the medial accessory olive. The subnucleus dorsomedialis and ventrolateralis of the parvocellular red nucleus projected to the rostral and caudal halves, respectively, of the medial part of the dorsal lamella. The subnucleus ventrolateralis of the parvocellular red nucleus also sent fibers to the lateral part of the ventrolateral outgrowth. The nucleus of the fields of Forel, suprarubral reticular formation, and interstitial nucleus of Cajal appeared to project to the caudal half of the medial accessory olive, the medial part of the ventrolateral outgrowth, the rostral part of the dorsal cap, and the caudal part of the dorsal accessory olive.