Ganglion cells in the facial nerve trunk of the mouse

Numbers and distribution of the ganglion cells in the facial trunk distal to the ggl. geniculi of the mouse were examined with the light microscope. Counts of the ganglion cells in 22 nerves from 14 mice showed that all specimens contained some ganglion cells and numbers of the ganglion cells were various (1--80) and, on an average, there were 24 ganglion cells in each facial trunk. Ganglion cells existed most frequently in the dorsal corner and the dorso-lateral border of the small fiber zone of the facial trunk near the level of the origin of the n. stapedius. Also they were often found in the facial trunk near the origin of the chorda tympani and near the cross contact of the r. auricularis n. vagi with the facial trunk. These ganglion cells may be sensory neurons.