Direct parasympathetic pathway from midbrain to ciliary muscles in cats and monkeys

In cats and monkeys, we examined the parasympathetic component of the oculomotor complex, which directly innervates the ciliary muscle, using horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Labeled neurons of varying form and size were found in the Edinger-Westphal(EW) and the Perlia nuclei of the cat and in the anteromedian, EW, and Perlia nuclei of the monkey. Our study confirmed that a direct parasympathetic pathway exists from the midbrain to the ciliary muscles, and that accommodation is controlled in part by this direct link from the midsagittal region via a parasympathetic neuron of the oculomotor nuclear complex.