Topographic representation of lower and upper teeth within the trigeminal sensory nuclei of adult cat as demonstrated by the transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase.

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin conjugate (HRP-WGA) entrapped in hypoallergenic polyacrylamide gel was used to study the patterns of termination of primary afferents that innervate the lower and upper tooth pulps within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC). HRP injections were made into the inferior and superior alveolar nerves in order to compare the central projections of the whole nerve with those from tooth pulps. In addition, the relationship between the distribution of the trigeminothalamic tract cells and the projection sites of the tooth pulp afferents was investigated by injecting HRP into the posterior ventral thalamus. HRP-labeled tooth pulp afferent fibers innervating the lower and upper teeth projected to the subnucleus dorsalis (Vpd) of pars principalis, the rostrodorsomedial part (Vo.r) and nucleus dorsomedialis (Vo.dm) of pars oralis, the medial regions of pars interpolaris, and laminae I, II, and V of pars caudalis. Terminal fields of the lower tooth pulp afferents formed a rostrocaudally running, uninterrupted column from the midlevel of Vpd to the caudal tip of caudalis. In contrast, the column of termination of upper tooth pulp afferents was discontinuous at the Vpd/Vo.r transition, and ended at the more rostral level of the caudalis than that of the lower tooth pulp afferents. The representation of the lower and upper teeth in the TSNC was organized in a somatotopic fashion which varied from one subdivision to the next, although terminal zones of the inferior and superior alveolar nerves overlapped within the Vo.r, Vo.dm, and dorsomedial part of rostral pars interpolaris. The lower and upper teeth were represented in the Vpd, Vo.r, Vo.dm, medial region of pars interpolaris, and laminae I, II, and V, in a ventrodorsal or caudorostral, dorsoventral, lateromedial, dorsoventral, and mediolateral or dorsomedial-ventrolateral sequence, respectively. The smaller, more focal terminal areas of the teeth contrasted sharply with more extensive terminal fields of the alveolar nerves. The HRP injections within the thalamus indicated that neurons in Vpd, the caudal pars interpolaris, and laminae I/V of caudalis, which are subdivisions of TSNC that receive pulpal projections, sent their axons to the ipsilateral and contralateral posterior ventral thalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The distribution of muscle primary afferents from the masseter nerve to the trigeminal sensory nuclei.

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase--wheat germ agglutinin conjugate was used to study the pattern of termination of somatic afferent fibers innervating the masseter muscle within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC) of the cat. The central processes of the masseteric nerve terminated in the caudal third of the pars interpolaris, and laminae I/V through the caudal two-thirds of caudalis and rostral parts of the C1 spinal cord segment. The functional significance of the masseteric afferent projections to the TSNC with a preferential pattern was discussed, particularly with respect to muscle pain.

Representation of upper and lower primary teeth in the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex in the young dog.

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin conjugate entrapped in polyacrylamide gel was used to study the patterns of termination of primary afferents that innervate the upper and lower primary tooth pulps within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex of the young dog. The lower and upper primary tooth pulp afferents projected to the subnucleus dorsalis of the principal nucleus, the rostrodorsomedial part and subnucleus dorsomedialis (Vo.dm) of the pars oralis, the nucleus of the intermediate plexus (Vi.ip) of the pars interpolaris, and laminae I, II and V of the caudalis. The lower and upper primary teeth were topographically represented in the Vo.dm, rostrocaudal mid-levels of Vi.ip, and in laminae I/V of the caudal levels of the pars caudalis, whereas an extensive overlapped projection was seen in other subdivisions.