Distribution of corticospinal neurons with collaterals to lower brain stem reticular formation in cat

The fluorescent retrograde double-labeling technique has been used to determine whether corticospinal neurons in the cat sensorimotor cortex distribute collaterals to the lower brain stem reticular formation. In this study the fluorescent tracers Nuclear Yellow and Diamidino Yellow 2HCl were used in combination with Fast Blue. One tracer was injected unilaterally in the spinal cord and the other was injected ipsilaterally in the bulbar medial reticular formation. The distribution of the retrogradely labeled neurons was studied in the contralateral hemisphere. In the sensorimotor cortex a large population of neurons was found which were labeled from the spinal cord and were double-labeled from the brain stem. These branching neurons were concentrated in the rostromedial part of the area 4 and the adjoining lateral part of area 6. In this region the percentages of corticospinal neurons which were double-labeled from the brain stem ranged from 5% laterally to 30% medially. In two cats it was demonstrated by means of the anterograde transport of HRP that the corticobulbar fibers from this region which must include the corticospinal collaterals are distributed to the reticular formation of the lower brain stem. In view of the fact that the double-labeled neurons are concentrated in the anterior part of the motor cortex, those branching neurons are in all likelihood involved in the control of neck, back and shoulder movements. This control is probably exerted by way of two routes i.e. by way of the direct corticospinal connections to spinal interneurons, and by way of the indirect cortico-reticulospinal connections established by the cortical fibers to the bulbar reticular formation. The present findings suggest that this dual control may be exerted by one and the same cell.