The primary afferent projection of the greater petrosal nerve to the solitary complex in the rat, revealed by transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase.

The primary afferent projection of the greater petrosal nerve (GPN) to the solitary complex was studied following application of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the GPN just distal to the geniculate ganglion. Labeled fibers were traced to the most rostral part of the solitary tract. Numerous collaterals entered the solitary complex from its dorsal and lateral aspects, and formed a dense plexus. They terminated in the dorsal half of the medial solitary nucleus at the level of the rostral half of the solitary complex, and in the ventrolateral and commissural nuclei at the level of the caudal half. The densest termination was observed in the medial solitary nucleus. Labeled terminals were found to contain round, clear synaptic vesicles and to make asymmetrical synaptic contacts with dendritic profiles.