DIRECT PARASYMPATHETIC PATHWAY FROM MIDBRAIN TO CILIARY MUSCLES IN CATS AND MONKEYS

In cats and monkeys, we examined the parasympathetic component of the oculomotor complex, which directly innervates the ciliary muscle, usin g horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Labeled neurons of varying form and si ze were found in the Edinger-Westphal (EW) and the Perlia nuclei of th e cat and in the anteromedian, EW, and Perlia nuclei of the monkey. Ou r study confirmed that a direct parasympathetic pathway exists from th e midbrain to the ciliary muscles, and that accommodation is controlle d in part by this direct link from the midsagittal region via a parasy mpathetic neuron of the oculomotor nuclear complex. (C) 1997 Japanese Opthalmological Society.