Possible conditioned stimulus pathway for classical eyelid conditioning in rabbits. I. Anatomical evidence for direct projections from the pontine nuclei to the cerebellar interpositus nucleus.

Wheat germ agglutinin and cholera toxin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were used to retrogradely and anterogradely trace connectivity between the lateral regions of the pontine nuclei and the anterior interpositus nucleus of the cerebellum in rabbits. Projections from the pontine nuclei were found to terminate in the anterior interpositus nucleus and the interpositus was found to send projections to the pontine nuclei. Projections from the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, dorsal accessory inferior olive, and Larsell's lobule HVI of the cerebellum were also found to terminate in the interpositus nucleus and projections from the interpositus nucleus to the inferior olivary complex were observed. The projections from brain stem regions to the interpositus nucleus are discussed as possible pathways that are involved in classical eyelid conditioning.

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