Trigemino-solitarii-facial pathway in rats

This study was undertaken to identify premotor neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) serving as relay neurons between the sensory trigeminal complex (STC) and the facial motor nucleus in rats. Trigemino‐solitarii connections were first investigated following injections of anterograde and/or retrograde (biotinylated dextran amine, biocytin, or gold‐HRP) tracers in STC or NTS. Trigemino‐solitarii neurons were abundant in the ventral and dorsal parts of the STC and of moderate density in its intermediate part. They project throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the NTS with a strong lateral preponderance. Solitarii‐trigeminal neurons were observed mostly in the rostral and rostrolateral NTS. They mainly project to the ventral and dorsal parts of the spinal trigeminal nucleus but not to the principal nucleus. Additional neurons located in the middle NTS were found to project exclusively to the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis. No solitarii‐trigeminal cells were observed in the caudal NTS. In addition, evidence was obtained of NTS retrogradely labeled neurons contacted by anterogradely labeled trigeminal terminals. Second, solitarii‐facial projections were analyzed following injections of anterograde and retrograde tracers into the NTS and the facial nucleus, respectively. NTS neurons, except those of the rostrolateral part, reached the dorsal aspect of the facial nucleus. Finally, simultaneous injections of anterograde tracer in the STC and retrograde tracer in the facial nucleus gave retrogradely labeled neurons in the NTS receiving contacts from anterogradely labeled trigeminal boutons. Thus, the present data demonstrate for the first time the existence of a trigemino‐solitarii‐facial pathway. This could account for the involvement of the NTS in the control of orofacial motor behaviors. J. Comp. Neurol. 487:176–189, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.