Authors: Huazheng Liang George Paxinos Charles Watson
Publish Date: 2011/07/07
Volume: 217, Issue: 2, Pages: 211-219
Abstract
The mesencephalic locomotor region MLR plays an important role in the control of locomotion but there is ongoing debate about the anatomy of its connections with the spinal cord In this study we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus PrCnF which lies within the boundaries of the presumptive MLR We used both retrograde and anterograde labeling techniques Small clusters of labeled neurons were seen in the medial portion of the PrCnF following fluorogold injections in the upper cervical spinal cord Fewer labeled neurons were seen in the PrCnF after upper thoracic injections Following the injection of anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine into the PrCnF labeled fibers were clearly observed in the spinal cord These fibers traveled in the ventral and lateral funiculi and terminated mainly in the medial portions of laminae 7 8 and 9 as well as area 10 with an ipsilateral predominance Our observations indicate that projections from the PrCnF to the spinal cord may provide an anatomical substrate for the role of the MLR in locomotion
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