Lamina I spinomesencephalic neurons in the cat ascend via the dorsolateral funiculi

Spinomesencephalic tract neurons in the cat spinal cord were retrogradely labeled following injections of wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase into the region of the midbrain parabrachial area. Labeled cell bodies were concentrated in lamina I, bilaterally. A more scattered distribution was observed in lamina V and deeper laminae. Bilateral lesions of the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) at thoracic levels eliminated labeling of lamina I neurons below the lesions, but had no effect on the labeling of the neurons in deeper laminae. Injections of colchicine into the spinal white matter caused the label to accumulate intra-axonally and revealed labeled axons bilaterally in the DLF and ipsilaterally in the ventrolateral and ventral funiculi.