Spinocerebellar projections to the vermis of the posterior lobe and the paramedian lobule in the cat, as studied by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.

Spinal neurons projecting to the posterior lobe of the cerebellum were identified with the retrograde horseradish peroxidase technique in the cat. In four cases with the injections, which were preceded by hemisections at cervical or thoracic levels, it was determined whether in the spinal cord the identified neurons give rise to crossed ascending axons or uncrossed ascending ones. The main groups of neurons projecting to sublobule VIIIB were located in the central cervical nucleus (with crossed ascending axons), Clarke's column (with uncrossed ascending axons), and the medial part of lamina VII of L6 to the caudal segments (with crossed ascending axons). Additional labeled neurons were found in the medial part of lamina VI between C2 and T1 and L5 and L6 (with uncrossed ascending axons), and in the ventral as well as dorsal horns of the sacral-caudal segments (with crossed ascending axons). On the other hand, neurons projecting to sublobule C (the copular part) of the paramedian lobule, which appeared always ipsilaterally to the side of the injections, were located in lamina V of C8 to L4 (with uncrossed ascending axons). Marginal neurons of Clarke's column (with uncrossed ascending axons) and spinal border cells (with crossed ascending axons that recross in the cerebellum) projected specifically to this part. At L1 and L2 or L2 and L3 labeled large and medium-sized neurons were also found within Clarke's column. The present study suggests that there are segregated projections of spinal neurons to the cortex of the cerebellar posterior lobe.