Liang H, Bácskai T, Paxinos G
Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
Neuroscience. 2015 May 21;294:206-14. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.020. Epub 2015 Mar 16.
The present study investigated the vestibulospinal system which originates from the spinal vestibular nucleus (SpVe) with both retrograde and anterograde tracer injections. We found that fluoro-gold (FG) labeled neurons were found bilaterally with a contralateral predominance after FG injections into the upper lumbar cord. Anterogradely labeled fibers from the rostral SpVe traveled in the medial part of the ventral funiculus ipsilaterally and the dorsolateral funiculus bilaterally in the cervical cord. They mainly terminated in laminae 5-8, and 10 of the ipsilateral spinal cord. The contralateral side had fewer fibers and they were found in laminae 6-8, and 10. In the thoracic cord, fibers were also found to terminate in bilateral intermediolateral columns. In the lumbar and lower cord, fibers were mainly found in the dorsolateral funiculus bilaterally and they terminated predominantly in laminae 3-7 contralaterally. Anterogradely labeled fibers from the caudal SpVe did not travel in the medial part of the ventral funiculus but in the dorsolateral funiculus bilaterally. They mainly terminated in laminae 3-8 and 10 contralaterally. The present study is the first to describe the termination of vestibulospinal fibers arising from the SpVe in the spinal cord. It will lay the anatomical foundation for those who investigate the physiological role of vestibulospinal fibers and potentially target these fibers during rehabilitation after stroke, spinal cord injury, or vestibular organ injury.
本研究通过逆行和顺行示踪剂注射，对起源于脊髓前庭核（SpVe）的前庭脊髓系统进行了研究。我们发现，将荧光金（FG）注射到上腰段脊髓后，双侧均发现有FG标记的神经元，且以对侧为主。来自嘴侧SpVe的顺行标记纤维在同侧腹侧索的内侧部分以及颈髓双侧的背外侧索中走行。它们主要终止于同侧脊髓的第5 - 8层和第10层。对侧的纤维较少，见于第6 - 8层和第10层。在胸髓中，纤维也被发现终止于双侧中间外侧柱。在腰段和下段脊髓中，纤维主要双侧见于背外侧索，且主要终止于对侧的第3 - 7层。来自尾侧SpVe的顺行标记纤维不在腹侧索的内侧部分走行，而是双侧在背外侧索中走行。它们主要终止于对侧的第3 - 8层和第10层。本研究首次描述了起源于SpVe的前庭脊髓纤维在脊髓中的终止情况。它将为那些研究前庭脊髓纤维生理作用以及在中风、脊髓损伤或前庭器官损伤后的康复过程中可能靶向这些纤维的人奠定解剖学基础。
