Anatomical mapping of the cerebellar nucleocortical projections in the rat: A retrograde labeling study

An analysis of the cerebellar nucleocortical projections was made by means of retrograde cellular labeling with wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. Each of the main nuclear subregions appears to give rise to nucleocortical projections. The cortical distribution of the projections is referred to here in term of sagittal zones. Zones A, B, and C conform to the recent description in the rat (Buisseret-Delmas, '88a, (b) on the basis of their olivocortical and corticonuclear projections. A corresponding description of zone D is given here. According to their distribution, three types of nucleocortical projections have been distinguished: (1) ipsilateral, reciprocal; (2) nonreciprocal; and 3) contralateral, symmetrical to the corticonuclear afferent. Reciprocal projections are strictly arranged in the sagittal direction, with the following zonal distribution. Zone A is subdivided into two subzones. Medial A zone receives its nuclear afferents from the medial aspect of the nucleus medialis (NM). The lateral A zone of the anterior lobe and lobule VI and that of the posterior lobe receive their reciprocal nuclear afferents from the ventrolateral NM and the dorsolateral protuberance, respectively. Zone B does not seem to receive nucleocortical projections. Zone C has three subzones in the rat. C1 is supplied from the medial third of the anterior and posterior subdivisions of the nucleus interpositus (NIA and NIP, respectively). C2 is supplied from the central third of the NIA and NIP. Rostrocaudally, the anterior lobe and lobule VIII are connected to the NIA, and lobules VI and VII to the NIP. C3 appears to be connected to the lateral third of NIA. Zone D contains three subzones mediolaterally in the rat. D0, not previously described, is defined on the basis of both its olivary afferent from the medial half of the ventral lamella of the principal olive and its corticonuclear projections onto the dorsolateral hump of Goodman et al. ('63). It receives a reciprocal nucleocortical afferent from the dorsolateral hump. D1 receives its olivary afferent from the dorsal lamella of the principal olive. It is reciprocally connected with the lateral, magnocellular part of the nucleus lateralis (NL). D2 is the most lateral subzone of the hemisphere. Its olivary afferent comes from the lateral half of the ventral lamella of the principal olive. D2 is reciprocally connected with the ventral, parvicellular subdivision of NL. The main cortical recipients for the nonreciprocal projections are the lateral A zone, the C3, and the D1 subzones. Nonreciprocal fibers to the lateral A zone come from the NIA and NIP, those to the C3 subzone mostly arise in the dorsolateral hump and the lateral NL, and those to the D1 subzone come from the dorsolateral hump as well as the lateral NIP. Symmetrical projections are contralateral projections that were found mainly connecting the NM and the lateral A zone, but there were also connections between the NIP and zone C and, very rarely, the NL and zone D. Symmetrical projections from the dorsolateral hump and the lateral NIA and NIP have not been found.