J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 Nov;40(11):3146-3155.

Morphology and Distribution of Motorneurons of Oculomotor Nucleus and Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus in the Cat

• Lim JS
• Yoo JH
• Kim DK

Abstract

The oculomotor nucleus and medial longitudinal fasciculus innervating medial rectus muscle were studied in 8 cats to evaluate the cell size and location of subnuclei by means of 1] horseradish peroxidase[HRP] injection directly to the belly of medial rectus muscle, 2] HRP injection to a transected nerve stump of medial rectus branch of the oculomotor nerve. The observed numbers and cell size of five major labelled sites were 1] Edinger-Westphal nucleus[10~15 cells, 15+/-3 micrometer], 2] dorsolateral subnuclei[895 cells, 50+/-2 micrometer], 3] ventral subnuclei[996 cells, 50+/-2 micrometer & 29+/-2 micrometer], 4] interoculomotor subnuclei[10~15 cells, 30+/-2 micrometer], and 5] medial longitudinal fasciculus[152 cells, 50+/-2 micrometer]. The medial longitudinal fasciculus plays an important role in movements of extraocular muscles, especially of medial rectus muscle and may subserve horizontal conjugate deviation and convergence.

Keyword

Horseradish peroxidase; Medial longitudinal fasciculus; Medial rectus muscle; Oculomotor nucleus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Armoracia
Cats*
Cell Size
Horseradish Peroxidase
Muscles
Oculomotor Nerve
Horseradish Peroxidase