Geometrical differences between neck motoneurons located in the brainstem and spinal cord in the mallard Anas platyrhynchos L.; a Golgi study

The dendrite geometry of neck motoneurons located in the upper cervical cord and lower brainstem of the mallard was studied in Golgi silver impregnated material. Measurements were obtained from camera lucida drawings and concerned the extent and orientation of dendritic trees. Dendrites were found to be oriented predominantly parallel to the sagittal plane, and projections were asymmetric in the dorso-ventral direction. Comparison between motoneurons located in the supraspinal nucleus of the brainstem and motoneurons in the ventral horn of the upper spinal cord showed that dendrites of motoneurons in the first cell group branch more often than those of neurons in the latter group. In addition, dendritic trees of ventral horn motoneurons preferentially project into the field dorsal to the cell body.