Retrograde tracing studies of subdivisions of the orbicularis oculi muscle in the rhesus monkey.

Functionally and anatomically, the orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle can be subdivided in a pretarsal, a preseptal, and an orbital portion. In the rhesus monkey, fluorescent and neuronal retrograde tracing experiments were performed in the pretarsal or the orbital portion of the OO muscle, or both, using fast blue, diamidino yellow, and wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase as tracers. The preseptal portion was not investigated because of close anatomical relationships to the other portions. It was found that motoneurons innervating the OO muscle are located exclusively within the intermediate subnucleus of the motor facial nucleus. The upper pretarsal motoneurons show a specific distribution in the dorso-rostral border area of the intermediate subnucleus, representing a dome-like organization, while lower pretarsal motoneurons are situated more ventrally in the adjacent area. The pretarsal motoneurons are all located dorsally in the rostral half and the upper part of the caudal half of the intermediate subnucleus. The upper pretarsal portion is subserved by about one third of the total intermediate motoneuron population. The size of the upper pretarsal motoneurons is similar to that of the motoneurons of the lower pretarsal portion of the OO muscle and falls, for the vast majority, into the large motoneuronal range. Motoneurons belonging to the upper and lower orbital portions are located ventrally and are more randomly distributed in the rostral half of the intermediate subnucleus. The size of orbital motoneurons varies from small to large. The large fraction of pretarsal motoneurons may reflect the specific function of the upper pretarsal portion during rapid and highly coordinated movements of the eyelids in different types of blinking.

A retrograde double fluorescent tracing study of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle in the cynomolgus monkey.

In the cynomolgus monkey, motoneurons innervating the levator palpebrae superioris muscle form a nucleus within the oculomotor nuclei called the central caudal nucleus. After double fluorescent neuronal retrograde tracing experiments, using fast blue and diamidino yellow as tracers in the levator palpebrae superior muscles, labelled motoneurons (30%) were found in an unpaired central caudal nucleus. Approximately 2% of the labelled motoneurons were double-labelled. The labelled and double-labelled neurons were distributed randomly over the central caudal nucleus, lateralization of populations of levator motoneurons within this nucleus was not observed. The afferent innervation of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle was restricted to the ophthalmic branch area of the gasserian ganglion. Primary afferent labelled neurons were absent from the mesencephalic nucleus of the fifth nerve. Surprisingly, fast blue was also found in the ophthalmic branch area of the contralateral ganglion of Gasser, while diamidino yellow was present only ipsilaterally. About 1% of the afferent labelled neurons were double-labelled. The results reveal that in the cynomolgus monkey the central caudal nucleus is not only topographically but also functionally one nucleus. Afferent innervation of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle is probably bilaterally organized.

Innervation of the palpebral conjunctiva and the superior tarsal muscle in the cynomolgous monkey: a retrograde fluorescent tracing study.

Retrograde fluorescent transport of Fast Blue (FB) and Diamidino Yellow (DY) was used to study the localisation of neurons that innervate the palpebral conjunctiva and the superior tarsal muscle in the cynomolgous monkey. Labelled cell bodies of sensory neurons including a few double labelled cell bodies were found in the ophthalmic part of the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion. Labelled cell bodies of the sympathetic neurons including a few double labelled cell bodies were located in the middle and cranial part of the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion, with a few in the contralateral ganglion. Labelled cell bodies of the parasympathetic neurons were all found in the ipsilateral pterygopalatine ganglion and randomly distributed. Neurons were disposed in the opthalmic part of the trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia, whereas parasympathetic neurons were distributed randomly. Cells of the nodose, ciliary, geniculate, otic and first 3 spinal ganglia were unlabelled. Tracing FB and DY from the palpebral conjunctiva and superior tarsal muscle respectively, revealed double labelled neurons in the trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia, probably indicating the presence of collaterals of axons serving both the palpebral conjunctiva and the superior tarsal muscle.

Innervation of the lacrimal gland in the cynomolgous monkey: a retrograde tracing study.

Retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was used to study the localisation of neurons that innervate the lacrimal gland of the cynomolgous monkey. WGA-HRP-labelled neurons were localised in the ipsilateral trigeminal, superior cervical and ciliary ganglia and in the ipsilateral and contralateral pterygopalatine ganglia. In the trigeminal ganglion WGA-HRP-labelled somata were found in the ophthalmic part (18%) and the maxillary part (5%). Identification of labelled neurons in the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia indicates a dual parasympathetic innvervation of the lacrimal gland. There is no known pathway to account for the contralateral location or pterygopalatine neurons. These novel findings are incorporated in a concept of a neural control mechanism for the lacrimal gland.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P immunoreactivity in the monkey trigeminal ganglion, an electron microscopic study.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) immunoreactivity was examined in neurons of the monkey trigeminal ganglion. Moreover, CGRP- and SP-positive varicose nerve fibers were found, occasionally forming pericellular arborizations around trigeminal somata, which, at light microscopic level, suggested the existence of synaptic contacts. Electron microscopic investigation however, revealed that although these varicose fibers ran in close range of somata and were containing accumulations of CGRP- and SP-positive vesicles, classical synaptic contacts were not present.

Innervation of the superior tarsal (Müller's) muscle in the cynomolgus monkey: a retrograde tracing study.

PURPOSE: The retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA/HRP) was used to study the localization of the neurons that innervate the superior tarsal muscle in the cynomolgus monkey. METHODS: A 5-10% WGA-HRP solution was applied to the medial part of the superior tarsal muscle. Seventy-two hours later, the animals were killed and perfused with fixative. RESULTS: The WGA-HRP-labeled neurons were localized in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion, the ipsilateral pterygopalatine ganglion, and the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion. The labeled somata of the sensory neurons were all found in the ophthalmic ganglionic part and the ophthalmic nerve part of the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion. Most of the labeled somata were distributed somatotopically in the dorsal region of the ophthalmic part of the ganglion. The labeled somata of the sympathetic neurons were all located in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion. Most of these labeled somata, which were distributed somatotopically, were found in the cranial part of the ganglion. The labeled somata of the parasympathetic neurons were all located in the ipsilateral pterygopalatine ganglion, particularly in the central ovoid part of the ganglion. No labeled neurons were detected in the ipsilateral parasympathetic ciliary ganglion, the ipsilateral nodose ganglion, or the first three ipsilateral sensory spinal ganglia; labeled somata could not be detected in any of the contralateral ganglia examined. CONCLUSIONS: A complete documentation of all projections of the superior tarsal muscle in the monkey has been presented, and convincing data has been given about the parasympathetic innervation of Müller's muscle.