Trigeminal representations of the masticatory and extraocular proprioceptors as revealed by horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport.

Horseradish peroxidase has been injected in the masticatory and extraocular muscles in newborn and adult cats to identify the cells of origin for the muscle endings. Labeled motoneurons in the nuclei of the III, IV, V and VI nerves have been observed. They are the parent cells of the motor terminals taking up the enzyme in the muscle injected. Labeled ganglionic cells have been found scattered all along the ipsilateral mesencephalic nucleus of the V nerve after injection of both the jaw closing and the jaw opening muscles. Labeled cells have also been found in the ipsilateral caudal part of the same nucleus after injection of the extraocular muscles. These results are interpreted as due to enzyme uptake by the sensory endings of the muscle studied. Moreover cell bodies in the semilunar ganglion were found marked for both groups of muscles injected showing a second ganglionic representation for the sensory endings.