Central distribution of efferent and afferent components of the pudendal nerve was examined in the rat by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method after HRP application to the central cut end of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal motoneurons were located in the dorsolateral, dorsomedial and lateral groups at L5 and L6. Each of the dorsolateral and dorsomedial groups constituted a slender longitudinal cell column. Pudendal motoneurons in the lateral group were scattered at L5, rostrodorsally to the dorsolateral group. The neurons in the dorsolateral and lateral groups were labelled with HRP applied to the nerve branch innervating the ischiocavernosus and sphincter urethrae muscles. The neurons in the dorsomedial group were labelled with HRP applied to the branch supplying the sphincter ani externus and bulbospongiosus muscles. Some dendrites of pudendal motoneurons in the dorsomedial group extended to the contralateral dorsomedial group. These crossing dendrites were observed not only in male rats but also in female. The average number of the pudendal motoneurons in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial groups were larger in male rats than in female. A few neurons of the intermediolateral nucleus at upper L6 were also labelled with HRP applied to the dorsalis penis (clitoridis) nerve. Axon terminals of the pudendal nerve were distributed, bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance, to the gracile nucleus, as well as to the dorsal horn and dorsal commissural gray from L4 to S2. A few labelled axons were seen in the intermediolateral nucleus at L6 and S1. Axon terminals from the dorsalis penis nerve were distributed more medially in the dorsal horn than those from the perinealis nerve.

Central distribution of afferent and efferent components of the pudendal nerve was examined in the cat by the HRP method after applying HRP to the central cut end of the pudendal nerve. Retrogradely labeled neuronal cell bodies were located primarily in the feline homologue of the Onuf's X nucleus, constituting a slender longitudinal cell column in the ventral horn of the S1 and S2 cord segments. The Onuf's nucleus was present constantly from middle S1 to high S2 cord segments, and occasionally extended rostrally to high S1 or low L7, and caudally to middle S2, low S2, or high S3 cord segments. No sex differences were observed in the distribution pattern, number, and soma size of labeled neurons in the Onuf's nucleus. Transganglionically labeled dorsal root fibers were found to terminate ipsilaterally in the lamina I of the dorsal horn at levels of lower lumbar, sacral, and higher coccygeal cord segments and the gracile nucleus, and bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance in the dorsal commissural gray and laminae III, IV, V, and VI of the dorsal horn at levels of lower lumbar, sacral, and higher coccygeal cord segments. Some labeled dorsal root fibers appeared to end ipsilaterally in the regions where the sacral parasympathetic preganglionic neurons have been shown to be located.

The segmental and topographical organization of motoneurons innervating the infrahyoid (IH) and the spinal accessory (AC) muscles was studied in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) with the retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method after application of HRP to the peripheral nerve branches supplying the IH and AC muscles. IH motoneurons constitute two distinct slender cell columns, a longer medial and a shorter lateral one. The medial cell column extends from the most caudal level of the hypoglossal nucleus to the lower levels of the second cervical (C2) cord segment. In the medial column, motoneurons supplying the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles are distributed at the medullary and C1 levels, while those innervating the omohyoid muscle are primarily distributed at the C2 level. The lateral cell column consists of motoneurons supplying the thyrohyoid muscle and extends from the most caudal level of the hypoglossal nucleus to the middle levels of the C1 cord segment. Axons of thyrohyoid motoneurons follow a dorsomedially directed bent emergent course, making a hairpin turn. AC motoneurons supplying the sternocleidomastoid (SC) and trapezius (TZ) muscles form a single slender cell column extending from the most rostral level of the pyramidal decussation to the middle levels of the C6 cord segment. SC motoneurons are distributed from the most rostral level of the pyramidal decussation to the middle levels of the C3 cord segment, while TZ motoneurons are distributed from the upper levels of the C2 cord segment to the lower levels of the C6 cord segment. At the levels of the C2 and C3 cord segments, both SC and TZ motoneurons are distributed in the AC cell column; the cluster of SC motoneurons is located dorsomedial to that of TZ motoneurons.

Central distribution of efferent and afferent components of the pudendal nerve was studied by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method in 13 macaque monkeys, i.e., in nine Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), two rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), and two crab-eating monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The enzyme was applied to the central cut end of the pudendal nerve; then the monkeys were allowed to survive for 36 to 72 hr. Retrogradely labeled neuronal cell bodies of pudendal motoneurons constituted a slender longitudinal cell column in the ventral horn. The cell column extended from high or middle S1 to high or middle S2 in eight monkeys, from middle or low L7 to high S2 in four monkeys, and from high L7 to middle S1 in a monkey. The cell column appeared to correspond to Onuf's X nucleus in man. No sex difference was recognized in the position of the cell column. The average number of HRP-labeled pudendal motoneurons was larger in male than in female adult Japanese monkeys, whereas no sex difference was found in the average soma diameter of the pudendal motoneurons. Transganglionically labeled axons entered into the spinal cord through the S1 and S2 dorsal roots in 12 monkeys and through the L7 and S1 dorsal roots in one monkey. Labeled axons were distributed ipsilaterally in laminae I-VI and X of the spinal cord at the same and adjacent levels of entry of HRP-labeled dorsal root fibers (from L7 to S3 in 12 monkeys and from L6 to S3 in one monkey).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)