The internal organization of the human solitary nucleus

The present study examines the topography and cytoarchitecture of the solitary nucleus (Sol). Three human medulla oblongatae were serially sectioned and alternate sections were reacted for the enzyme acetylcholinesterase or stained with cresyl violet. The 10 component subnuclei of Sol were identified on the basis of their acetylcholinesterase reactivity and cytoarchitecture. These subnuclei are the paracommissural, commissural, gelatinosus, medial, ventral, ventrolateral, dorsal, dorsolateral, intermediate, and interstitial. Cytoarchitecturally, Sol is characterised by an abundance of small cells of varied morphology but also features some medium to large cells as well as pigmented neurons which are differentially distributed across the subnuclei. From spaced serial sections, the outlines of the subnuclei and the entire Sol were used to create three-dimensional computer reconstructions to display the position and extent of each component subnucleus. Our results show that the internal architecture of the human solitary nucleus is similar to that of rodents and carnivores, though there are some notable species differences.