SCIATIC NERVE

MOTOR AND SENSORY NEURONS OF THE RAT. A HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the number, size, somatotopy and segmental distribution of HRP labeled
motor and sensory neurons forming sciatic nerve in albino rat by using HRP technique. To fined out the distribution of
neurons in sciatic nerve in albino rat in spinal cord from L3S1. The average number, size and segmental distribution of
motor and sensory neurons were localized by HRP method of tracing neuronal connections. The motor neurons forming
SCN ranged 10-60 microns and extended between the caudal part of L3 and rostral part of SI spinal segment. They
occupied PPL, PL, C and aL subgroups. The peak frequency distribution of motor neurons was observed in L4-L6
spinal segment in SCN. The labeled sensory neurons whose peripheral process run in SCN were localized in L3-S1
ipsilateral Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG). No somatotopic organization of the cells was found in the DRG. The cells were
distributed throughout the ganglia without forming groups. The somal diameters of sensory neurons forming SCN
measured between 14-58 microns.