The brainstem projection of the vestibular nerve in the cat.

The projection of the vestibular nerve to the brainstem of the cat was re-examined with silver degeneration methods after complete lesions of the vestibular ganglion. Whereas previous investigations emphasize that only parts of the major vestibular nuclei are innervated by the vestibular nerve, the present investigation shows that only the dorsal division of the lateral vestibular nucleus is uninnervated. Thus, the terminal field of the vestibular nerve extends to the cytoarchitectonic boundaries of the superior, medial, descending, and the ventral division of the lateral vestibular nuclei. Vestibular nerve fibers were also traced to discrete terminal fields in the reticular formation lateral to the abducens nucleus and in the rostral, lateral parts of the accessory cuneate nucleus. These observations indicate a more widespread distribution of vestibular nerve fibers in the brainstem of the cat than previously believed.