Electromyographic examination of patients with unilateral cortical facial paralysis

Characterization of some morphological parameters of orbicularis oculi motor neurons in the monkey

The primate facial nucleus is a prominent brainstem structure that is composed of cell bodies giving rise to axons forming the facial nerve. It is musculotopically organized, but we know little about the morphological features of its motor neurons. Using the Lucifer Yellow intracellular filling method, we examined 11 morphological parameters of motor neurons innervating the monkey orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle, which plays an important role in eyelid closure and voluntary and emotional facial expressions. All somata were multipolar and remained confined to the intermediate subnucleus, as did the majority of its aspiny dendritic branches. We found a mean maximal cell diameter of 54 microm in the transverse dimension, cell diameter of 60 microm in the rostrocaudal dimension, somal surface area of 17,500 microm(2) and somal volume of 55,643 microm(3). Eight neurons were used in the analysis of dendritic parameters based upon complete filling of the distal segments of the dendritic tree. We found a mean number of 16 dendritic segments, an average dendritic length of 1036 microm, diameter of 7 microm, surface area of 12,757 microm(2) and total volume of 16,923 microm(3). Quantitative analysis of the dendritic branch segments demonstrated that the average number, diameter and volume gradually diminished from proximal to distal segments. A Sholl analysis revealed that the highest number of dendritic intersections occurred 60 microm distal to the somal center with a gradual reduction of intersections occurring distally. These observations advance our understanding of the morphological organization of the primate facial nucleus and provide structural features for comparative studies, interpreting afferent influence on OO function and for designing studies pinpointing structural alterations in OO motor neurons that may accompany disorders affecting facial movement.

Cortical innervation of the facial nucleus in the non-human primate: a new interpretation of the effects of stroke and related subtotal brain trauma on the muscles of facial expression

The corticobulbar projection to musculotopically defined subsectors of the facial nucleus was studied from the face representation of the primary (M1), supplementary (M2), rostral cingulate (M3), caudal cingulate (M4) and ventral lateral pre- (LPMCv) motor cortices in the rhesus monkey. We also investigated the corticofacial projection from the face/arm transitional region of the dorsal lateral premotor cortex (LPMCd). The corticobulbar projection was defined by injecting anterograde tracers into the face representation of each motor cortex. In the same animals, the musculotopic organization of the facial nucleus was defined by injecting fluorescent retrograde tracers into individual muscles of the upper and lower face. The facial nucleus received input from all face representations. M1 and LPMCv gave rise to the heaviest projection with progressively diminished intensity occurring in the M2, M3, M4 and LPMCd projections, respectively. Injections in all cortical face representations labelled terminals in all nuclear subdivisions (dorsal, intermediate, medial and lateral). However, significant differences occurred in the proportion of labelled boutons found within each functionally characterized subdivision. M1, LPMCv, LPMCd and M4 projected primarily to the contralateral lateral subnucleus, which innervated the perioral musculature. M2 projected bilaterally to the medial subnucleus, which supplied the auricular musculature. M3 projected bilaterally to the dorsal and intermediate subnuclei, which innervated the frontalis and orbicularis oculi muscles, respectively. Our results indicate that the various cortical face representations may mediate different elements of facial expression. Corticofacial afferents from M1, M4, LPMCv and LPMCd innervate primarily the contralateral lower facial muscles. Bilateral innervation of the upper face is supplied by M2 and M3. The widespread origin of these projections indicates selective vulnerability of corticofacial control following subtotal brain injury. The finding that all face representations innervate all nuclear subdivisions, to some degree, suggests that each motor area may participate in motor recovery in the event that one or more of these motor areas are spared following subtotal brain injury. Finally, the fact that a component of the corticofacial projection innervating both upper and lower facial musculature arises from the limbic proisocortices (M3 and M4) and frontal isocortices (M1, M2, LPMCv and LPMCd) suggests a potential anatomical substrate that may contribute to the clinical dissociation of emotional and volitional facial movement.