Transneuronal Degeneration in the Pontine Nuclei of the Cat

The present study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of a rapid nerve cell loss in the nuclei pontis described after mesencephalic lesions in young cats by Torvik (1956). He observed that hemisection of the mesencephalon caused an extensive disintegration of nerve cells in the homolateral nuclei pontis within four days after the operation. Mter lesions of the caudal part of the mesencephalon a severe neuronal loss was noted also in the inferior olive. Most of the degenerating neurons appea