Two major types of premotoneurons in the feline trigeminal nucleus oralis as demonstrated by intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase.

Previous studies suggest that neurons in the dorsomedial subdivisions of trigeminal nucleus oralis (Vo) may contribute to reflex control of jaw movements and to modulation of sensory information. The present study has addressed this possibility by the use of intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase of physiologically identified neurons in Vo to examine functional and morphological properties of these neurons. Of 14 labeled neurons, eight had axon collaterals terminating exclusively in the dorsolateral subdivision of the trigeminal motor nucleus (DL neurons) and four in its ventromedial subdivision (VM neurons); axon collaterals of two neurons were not traced. Both groups of neurons sent terminal arbors into other nuclei of the lower brainstem. The DL neurons were distinguishable from the VM neurons in their receptive field (RF) location, neuronal position, somadendritic architecture, and projections to other brainstem nuclei. All neurons, except for two that were exclusively activated by noxious stimuli applied to the tongue, were responsive to light mechanical stimulation of peri- and intraoral structures. The RFs of the DL neurons were located in more posterior oral structures than those of the VM neurons. The RF of nearly all low-threshold DL neurons was located in the maxillary region, and that of the VM neurons, in contrast, involved the mandibular region. The VM neurons were located medial or ventral to the DL neurons. The soma size of the VM neurons was significantly larger than that of the DL neurons. Dendritic arbors of both groups could be separated into medial and lateral components. The ratio of the dendritic transverse areas in the medial vs. lateral component was significantly higher in the VM neurons than in the DL neurons. The DL neurons also issued collaterals that terminated in larger brainstem areas than those of the VM neurons. These observations provide new evidence on the morphological and functional properties of Vo neurons that contribute to reflex control of jaw and facial movements and modulation of sensory information.