Primary afferent fibers in the glossopharyngeal nerve terminate in the dorsal division of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus: an HRP study in the cat.

After applying horseradish peroxidase to the central cut end of the pharyngo-esophageal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve in the cat, axon terminals labeled transganglionically with the enzyme were found ipsilaterally in the dorsomedial tip regions and ventromedial border regions of the dorsal division of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus (dorsal Vp), as well as in the solitary, spinal trigeminal and medial cuneate nuclei. The area of termination in the dorsal Vp extended about 200 micron rostrocaudally in the caudal two-thirds of the dorsal Vp.