Projections of the medial cerebellar nucleus to oculomotor-related midbrain areas in the rat: an anterograde and retrograde HRP study.

The mesencephalic projections of the medial cerebellar nucleus (MCN) were studied in the rat by using the method of anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin/horseradish peroxidase to establish connections of the nucleus with oculomotor-related nuclei as a basis for its proposed role in eye movement. The principal targets of projections were the supraoculomotor ventral periaqueductal gray (PAG) and lateral PAG, and paraoculomotor cell groups (nucleus of Darkschewitsch and medial accessory nucleus of Bechterew). Lesser projections were observed to the intermediate layer of the superior colliculus, nucleus of the posterior commissure, and prerubral field. Following transcannular HRP gel implants into the oculomotor complex that included adjacent paraoculomotor nuclei, the largest number of retrogradely labeled cells was found in the caudal MCN. The findings suggest that the caudal MCN in the rat, like the primate fastigial nucleus, is involved in the control of eye movement.