Projection patterns of primary sensory neurons studied by transganglionic methods: somatotopy and target-related organization.

The anatomical organization of the centrally projecting branches of different peripheral sensory nerves was not possible to investigate efficiently until the development of the axonal tracing methods. Horseradish peroxidase applied peripherally could be visualized in central projection areas provided a sensitive histochemical method was used; this created the basis for transganglionic tracing from the periphery. This has permitted the investigation of large-scale projections from peripheral sensory nerves. The use of conjugates of horseradish peroxidase and lectins with affinities for different populations of primary sensory neurons, as well as the use of different postoperative survival times, has offered the possibility for selective visualization of projections from subsets of primary sensory neurons. For detailed studies of single afferent fiber projections, a combined physiological-anatomical approach using single-unit recording followed by intraaxonal application of horseradish peroxidase, has become the method of choice. This chapter will focus on results which have been achieved by transganglionic tracing methods, in regard to the organization of the central projections of peripheral sensory nerves.