A hypothalamic projection to the turtle red nucleus: an anterograde and retrograde tracing study

It is well known that the reptilian red nucleus lacks a descending motor cortical input to the red nucleus, but has a well-developed cerebellar input. The present study was undertaken to determine whether there is a descending rubral input that originates from the hypothalamus. Using an in vitro preparation from the turtle, injections of neurobiotin into the red nucleus resulted in retrograde labeling of neurons in the suprapeduncular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Injections of either neurobiotin or fluorescein dextran into the suprapeduncular nucleus resulted in anterograde labeling of axons and terminal boutons in the red nucleus. The majority of these terminations appeared to lie in the medial part of the red nucleus. These data have implications for the potential control of the somatic motor system of reptiles by limbic system inputs.