Search

The monotremes (echidnas and platypus) have been claimed by some authors to show 'avian' or 'reptilian' features in the gross morphology and microscopic anatomy of the cerebellum. We have used Nissl staining in conjunction with enzyme histochemistry to acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidase and immunohistochemistry to non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32 antibody), calcium binding proteins (parvalbumin, calbindin and calretinin) and tyrosine hydroxylase to examine the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the cerebellar cortex and deep cerebellar nuclei in the short-beaked echidna. Immunoreactivity for non-phosphorylated neurofilament (SMI-32 antibody) was found in the deep cerebellar nuclei and in Purkinje cells of most regions except the nodule. Purkinje cells identified with SMI-32 immunoreactivity were clearly mammalian in morphology. Parvalbumin and calbindin immunoreactivity was found in Purkinje cells with some regional variation in staining intensity and in Purkinje cell axons traversing cerebellar white matter or terminating on Lugaro cells. Calbindin immunoreactivity was also present in inferior olivary complex neurons. Calretinin immunoreactivity was found in pontocerebellar fibers and small cells in the deep granule cell layer of the ansiform lobule. We found that, although the deep cerebellar nuclei were much less clearly demarcated than in the rodent cerebellum, it was possible to distinguish medial, interposed and lateral nuclear components in the echidna. As far as we can determine from our techniques, the cerebellum of the echidna shows all the gross and cytological features familiar from the cerebellum of therian mammals., (Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The topographic organization of the facial nucleus motoneurons in the rat was investigated with the horseradish peroxidase retrograde tracing method using tetramethyl benzidine as a chromogen. Facial muscles were 'represented' on the facial nucleus in an orderly fashion. For example, the motoneurons supplying the rostral (nasolabial) muscles are laterally placed, whereas those supplying the caudal (auricular) muscles are medially placed. Notable findings in this study are: (i) the relatively unremarkable size of the nasolabial (vibrissal) muscle representation; there does not seem to be an increase in size of this part of the nucleus, commensurate with the specialized sensory functions of the vibrissal area of the face and (ii) the neurons supplying the posterior belly of the digastric are found in the suprafacial nucleus which lies about 1 mm dorsal to the main facial nucleus.

An indirect estimate of the extent of branching of the olivary axons in the cerebellum in a marsupial (Trichosurus vulpecula) was carried out. The cells in the inferior olivary nuclear complex (IOC) of both sides were estimated (mean = 57,200), as were the cerebellar Purkinje cells (mean = 881,300). Assuming that all climbing fibers arise from IOC cells and that each Purkinje cell receives a climbing fiber input, each IOC cell sends climbing fiber terminals to 15 Purkinje cells.

The olivocerebellar projection has been studied in the rat using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing technique. All regions of the cerebellum, except for the flocculonodular lobe, were injected with small volumes of HRP. The overall organization of the rat olivocerebellar projection is similar in all major respects to that found in other mammals. For example, in the rat Crus 1 and Crus 2 receive afferents from the principal olive, medial part of the rostral dorsal olive, the rostral medial olive, the dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth which agrees with studies in the cat. The most notable difference between the present study and studies in other mammals is the finding of a projection in the rat from the dorsomedial cell column to all regions of the cerebellar hemispheres, except for the paraflocculus.

The direct projections of the spinal cord onto the cerebellar cortex were traced using Nauta method following the placement of cervical or thoracic spinal cord hemisections in six brush-tailed possums. Degenerating fibres reached the cerebellum via typically placed dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts. Although complete differentiation of the terminations of ventral and dorsal tracts was not possible, it was found that the dorsal tract terminates mainly in the ipsilateral anterior lobe ermis and in the pyramis and paraflocculus of the ipsilateral posterior lobe. The ventral tract ends almost entirely in the anterior lobe with the majority of fibres terminating contralateral to the side of the hemisection. Within the anterior lobe, degenerating fibers were distributed fairly symmetrically about the midline in five sagittal rows. Three such rows were found in the posterior lobe. The relatively small number of rows in the anterior lobe (five) may be a characteristic feature of marsupials when compared with eutherian mammals.