Mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus neurons with collaterals to both the masseter and the inferior alveolar nerves. A fluorescent double-labeling study in the rat.

After fluorescent tracers were applied to the inferior alveolar nerve and the masseter nerve on the same side of the rat, double-labeled neurons were observed in the caudal part of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Vme), reflecting simultaneous innervation of both the periodontal ligaments and masseter muscle spindles by collaterals of peripheral processes of single Vme neurons.