[Structure and topography of nucleus dorsalis in the spinal cord of horses]

The material for the study was taken from 2 spinal cords of sexually mature horses. Preparations obtained from this material were stained according to Nissl and with the use of cresyl violet. The nucleus dorsalis of the horse extends from the 8th cervical neuromere to the 3rd lumbar neuromere of the spinal cord. The cells which form this nucleus lie in the grey matter of the spinal cord, dorsolaterally of the central canal. The nucleus dorsalis is made out of large and medium-size round and oval cells. The characteristic feature of the structure and configuration of this nucleus in the horse is the occurrence of numerous discontinuities over a considerable part of its length. The nucleus is continuous only over a short distance contained between Th17 and 2/3 of the anterior L2. The nucleus dorsalis shows great variation with regard to the number of cells which form it in the individual neuromeres of the spinal cord. In this respect, the best developed segment of the nucleus in the horse is contained between Th17 and L2.