Localization of motor, sensory and postganglionic sympathetic neurons forming the femoral nerve in albino rat

ABSTRACT

The present study yields informations on the location, number and size of motor, sensory and postganglionic sympathetic neurons forming the femoral nerve in albino rats localized by horseradish peroxidase [HRP] method of tracing neuronal connections. It showed that the motoneurons of femoral nerve extended between L[1] and L[4] segments of the spinal cord. They appeared as groups of neurons occupying anterolateral, posterolateral and central groups. The labeled sensory neurons were located in L[1] - L[4] dorsal root ganglia[DRG] and were concentrated mostly in L[3] DRG with no somatotopic organization of the cells. The postganglionic sympathetic neurons [PSN] were labeled in L[1] - L[4] sympathetic ganglia with peak frequency in L[4] sympathetic ganglion. The somal diameters of motoneurons forming the femoral nerve ranged between 10 and 58 [micro]m with majority having somal diameters greater than 25 [micro]m. The size spectrum of sensory neurons measure between 14 and 60 [micro]m. The sympathetic neurons measure between 10 and 44[micro]m