Central Distribution and Efferent origins of facial nerve branches in the chicken

Donald Ganchrow*, Michael J. Gentle, Judith R. Ganchrow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The central afferent distribution and the origins of visceromotor and somatomotor components of greater superficial petrosal (GSP), chorda tympani (CT), and hyomandibular (Hy) branches of the facial nerve were analyzed by the transganglionic and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Labelled sensory afferent fascicles of the GSP collected dorsomedial to the spinal trigeminal complex and passed caudally as the tractus solitarius. Fine-grain terminal fields were evident in ipsilateral n. sensorius n. facialis, nuclei ventrolateralis anterior (Vla), centralis anterior and presulcalis anterior of the solitary complex, and n. glossopharyngei et n. motorius dorsalis nervi vagi (n. IX-X). Minor contralateral projections to these nuclei occasionally were observed. CT sensory afferents exhibited similar ipsilateral projections, and specifically, the projection to Vla was qualitatively sparser than that from the GSP. Small multipolar and spindle-shaped somata of visceromotor n. salivatorius were labelled retro-gradely from the GSP and CT. Large, oval somatomotor cells of the three subdivisions of the facial motor nucleus were labelled retrogradely from Hy, with no evidence of sensory afferent or visceromotor connections.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-238
Number of pages8
JournalBrain Research Bulletin
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1987

Keywords

  • Avian
  • Chicken
  • Chorda tympani
  • Facial nerve
  • Greater superficial petrosal
  • Gustatory
  • Horseradish peroxidase
  • HRP
  • Hyomandibular
  • Nucleus tractus solitarius
  • Taste

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