Organization of Brainstem Nuclei

Paxinos, George; Huang, Xu‐Feng; Şengül, Gülgün; Watson, Charles

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374236-0.10008-2

Cited by 109 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 170 publications

(186 reference statements)

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“…A – F Right dorsal quadrant of caudal medulla oblongata sections immunostained for CGRP and counterstained with Kluver-Barrera. A 1 – F 1 diagrams modified from Paxinos et al (2012) at levels indicated as distance from obex, matching those shown in A – F . Gray matter regions endowed with CGRP immunoreactivity and located medially ( B ), dorsally ( C , E ) and laterally ( D , E ) in the cuneate fascicle (cu) near the cuneate nucleus (Cu) border are encircled in red.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

The human cuneate nucleus contains discrete subregions whose neurochemical features match those of the relay nuclei for nociceptive information

et al. 2013

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The present paper is aimed at defining distinctive subdivisions of the human cuneate nucleus (Cu), evident from prenatal to old life, whose occurrence has never been clearly formalized in the human brain, or described in other species so far. It extends our early observations on the presence of gray matter areas that host strong substance P (SP) immunoreactivity in the territory of the human Cu and adjacent cuneate fascicle. Here we provide a three-dimensional reconstruction of the Cu fields rich in SP and further identify those areas by means of their immunoreactivity to the neuropeptides SP, calcitonin gene-related peptide, methionine- and leucine-enkephalin, peptide histidine-isoleucine, somatostatin and galanin, to the trophins glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and to the neuroplasticity proteins polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule and growth-associated protein-43. The presence, density and distribution of immunoreactivity for each of these molecules closely resemble those occurring in the superficial layers of the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5C). Myelin and Nissl stainings suggest that those Cu subregions and the Sp5C superficial layers share a similar histological aspect. This work establishes the existence of definite subregions, localized within the Cu territory, that bear the neurochemical and histological features of sensory nuclei committed to the neurotransmission of protopathic stimuli, including pain. These findings appear of particular interest when considering that functional, preclinical and clinical studies show that the dorsal column nuclei, classical relay station of fine somatic tactile and proprioceptive sensory stimuli, are also involved in pain neurotransmission.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

The human cuneate nucleus contains discrete subregions whose neurochemical features match those of the relay nuclei for nociceptive information

et al. 2013

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“…These histological images were courtesy of the Brain Biodiversity Bank of the Michigan State University 2 , 3 with support from the US National Science Foundation. An experienced neuroanatomist (UB; experience more than 15 years) assessed the MR images and identified anatomical structures and substructures if they coincided with a histoarchitectonic atlas (Bergman et al, 1989; Naidich et al, 2009; Paxinos et al, 2012) and if they were identifiable with respect to the surrounding tissue. For this qualitative analysis the window and level settings of the MR images were adjusted freely.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Resolution MR Imaging of the Human Brainstem In vivo at 7 Tesla

Deistung

Schäfer

Schweser

et al. 2013

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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The human brainstem, which comprises a multitude of axonal nerve fibers and nuclei, plays an important functional role in the human brain. Depicting its anatomy non-invasively with high spatial resolution may thus in turn help to better relate normal and pathological anatomical variations to medical conditions as well as neurological and peripheral functions. We explored the potential of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 T for depicting the intricate anatomy of the human brainstem in vivo by acquiring and generating images with multiple contrasts: T2-weighted images, quantitative maps of longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 maps) and effective transverse relaxation rate (Rnormal2normal* maps), magnetic susceptibility maps, and direction-encoded track-density images. Images and quantitative maps were compared with histological stains and anatomical atlases to identify nerve nuclei and nerve fibers. Among the investigated contrasts, susceptibility maps displayed the largest number of brainstem structures. Contrary to R1 maps and T2-weighted images, which showed rather homogeneous contrast, Rnormal2normal* maps, magnetic susceptibility maps, and track-density images clearly displayed a multitude of smaller and larger fiber bundles. Several brainstem nuclei were identifiable in sections covering the pons and medulla oblongata, including the spinal trigeminal nucleus and the reticulotegmental nucleus on magnetic susceptibility maps as well as the inferior olive on R1, Rnormal2normal*, and susceptibility maps. The substantia nigra and red nuclei were visible in all contrasts. In conclusion, high-resolution, multi-contrast MR imaging at 7 T is a versatile tool to non-invasively assess the individual anatomy and tissue composition of the human brainstem.

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“…The mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF) which is mainly composed by the pedunculopontine (PPN) (also renamed the pedunculotegmental nucleus by Paxinos et al (2012) and the cuneiform nuclei is thought to be involved at least in two fundamental brain functions: locomotion and waking state.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The primate pedunculopontine nucleus region: towards a dual role in locomotion and waking state

et al. 2016

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The mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF) mainly composed by the pedunculopontine and the cuneiform nuclei is involved in the control of several fundamental brain functions such as locomotion, rapid eye movement sleep and waking state. On the one hand, the role of MRF neurons in locomotion has been investigated for decades in different animal models, including in behaving nonhuman primate (NHP) using extracellular recordings. On the other hand, MRF neurons involved in the control of waking state have been consistently shown to constitute the cholinergic component of the reticular ascending system. However, a dual control of the locomotion and waking state by the same groups of neurons in NHP has never been demonstrated in NHP. Here, using microelectrode recordings in behaving NHP, we recorded 38 neurons in the MRF that were followed during transition between wakefulness (TWS) and sleep, i.e., until the emergence of sleep episodes characterized by typical cortical slow wave activity (SWA). We found that the MRF neurons, mainly located in the pedunculopontine nucleus region, modulated their activity during TWS with a decrease in firing rate during SWA. Of interest, we could follow some MRF neurons from locomotion to SWA and found that they also modulated their firing rate during locomotion and TWS. These new findings confirm the role of MRF neurons in both functions. They suggest that the MRF is an integration center that potentially allows to fine tune waking state and locomotor signals in order to establish an efficient locomotion.

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Organization of Brainstem Nuclei

Cited by 109 publications

References 170 publications

The human cuneate nucleus contains discrete subregions whose neurochemical features match those of the relay nuclei for nociceptive information

The human cuneate nucleus contains discrete subregions whose neurochemical features match those of the relay nuclei for nociceptive information

High-Resolution MR Imaging of the Human Brainstem In vivo at 7 Tesla

The primate pedunculopontine nucleus region: towards a dual role in locomotion and waking state

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