Central Projections of the Eighth Nerve in Frogs

Abstract

The central projections of the frog VIIIth nerve were analyzed by the use of modifications of the Nauta staining technique for degeneration. After whole VIIIth nerve lesions, degeneration extended ipsilaterally throughout the acoustico-lateral area from the end of the hindbrain up to and including the nucleus cerebelli and the marginal granular layer of the cerebellum. Lesions of the anterior ramus or of the branches of the lagena and sacculus produced degeneration in all of the above areas except the dorsal acoustic nucleus. No degeneration was observed in the molecular layer of the cerebellum after any lesions of the VIIIth nerve.