CONNECTIONS OF THE LATERAL RETICULAR NUCLEUS TO THE LATERAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS IN THE RAT - AN ANTEROGRADE TRACING STUDY WITH PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS-LEUKOAGGLUTININ

Efferent projections from the lateral reticular nucleus in the rat wer e investigated with anterograde transport of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoa gglutinin. Besides the well known messy fibre connections to the cereb ellar cortex and collaterals to the cerebellar nuclei, a substantial b ilateral projection to the lateral Vestibular nucleus was found. Termi nal arborizations found within this nucleus appeared to detach from th e reticulocerebellar fibres in the cerebellar white matter and enter t he lateral vestibular nucleus from dorsally. This projection may have functional relevance for the control, by ascending spinal pathways, of the descending lateral vestibulospinal tract.