Projections from the diencephalon and mesencephalon to nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis in the cat

The distribution of labelled cells in the diencephalon and mesencephalon has been mapped following injections of horseradish peroxidase into nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis in the cat. Most of the labelled cells were found ipsilateral to the injection site. A group of small and medium-sized labelled perikarya (11-40 microns in diameter) was present in the caudal part of the periaqueductal grey matter (A3-P2) and in the adjacent tegmentum. Small, round or fusiform cells (8-25 microns were labelled in the tuberal region of the hypothalamus in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and in the lateral hypothalamic area. It is suggested that the cardiovascular responses which can be elicited by stimulation in these regions of the periaqueductal grey and hypothalamus are mediated via a relay on to spinally projecting neurones in nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis which synapse on sympathetic preganglionic neurones in the intermediolateral cell column.