Topography and cytoarchitectonics of the nuclei of the posterior part of hypothalamus in Insectivora. Part I. Nuclei corpis mamillaris.

Studies were carried out on the brains of three adult mammals: hedgehog, mole and common shrew. Paraffin cross-sections 15 microns thick were stained with the methods of Nissl and Klüver-Barrera. The paper gives a description of the location, shape and cell structure of the nuclei of corporis mamillaris in the three mammals. Studies suggest that location of nuclei in corpus mamillaris of Insectivora is similar, while their shape and cell structure are characterized by typical species-related differences. These differences are noticeably less pronounced in mole and common shrew, the 2 species differing from hedgehog. In case of hedgehog, the differences consist most of all of different shape of nucleus mamillaris medialis and nucleus supramamillaris and of different cell structure of nucleus tuberomamillaris pars posterior. In hedgehog corpora mamillare are characterized by progressive phylogenetic development compared to corpora mamillare in mole and common shrew.