Exteroceptive and proprioceptive afferents of the trigeminal and facial motor nuclei in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos L.).

Central pathways converging upon the trigeminofacial motor nuclei of the mallard were studied in order to elucidate neuroanatomically the presumed influence of primary sensory trigeminal afferents upon jaw muscle activity. The techniques used included the Fink-Heimer I method after lesions, and axonal transport labeling following injections of 3H-leucine or of HRP for retrograde identification of the neurons of origin. A general description is given of the trigeminofacial motor complex. Jaw closer muscles are innervated by trigeminal motor neurons, and facial motor neurons innervate the jaw depressor muscles. Two afferents premotor systems, one including the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MesV) and the other the rhombencephalic reticular formation, are distinguished. The proprioceptive neurons of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus project upon the ipsilateral trigeminal motor nucleus and upon the nucleus supratrigeminalis. The latter cell group bilaterally projects upon the dorsal and intermediate parts of the facial motor nucleus and upon the dorsal and intermediate parts of the facial motor nucleus and upon part of the trigeminal motor nucleus. Exteroceptive information, relayed through the primary sensory trigeminal column (PrV and nTTD), ultimately reaches the motor nuclei via the reticular formation. The reticular formation forms the final link of three separate circuits: a telencephalic one entered through the principal trigeminal sensory nucleus, a cerebellar one via subnucleus oralis of the descending trigeminal system, and a direct one via subnucleus interpolaris. No direct connections between the principal trigeminal sensory nucleus or subnuclei of the descending trigeminal system and the motor nuclei of the trigeminal (NV) and facial (NVII) nerves have been observed, nor are such direct projections present in the outflow of the presumed telencephalic and cerebellar circuits, viz. of the archistriatum and the central cerebellar nuclei, respectively. The archistriatum projects via the occipitomesencephalic tract upon the lateral rhombencephalic reticular formation as far down as the rostral cervical cord, as well as upon the subnucleus interpolaris of the descending trigeminal system. Similarly, efferents from the central cerebellar nuclei reach the reticular formation, which in turn projects bilaterally upon the motor nuclei. Finally, commissural intermotor connections apparently are mediated by reticular cells surrounding the motor nuclei of NV or NVII, rather than emanating from these nuclei directly.