A study of the structure of mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Mes V) in the Rabbit [Tavşanda mezansefalik trigeminal çekirdek (mesv) üzerine yapi{dotless}sal bir çali{dotless}şma]

Background: there is drought of information on the morphometric characteristics of mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (mes v) of the rabbit. hence,the purpose of this study was to determine some fundamental morphologic parameters of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (mes v) in the adult rabbit. methods: brains were removed after intracardial perfusion and were processed for paraffin sections light microscopy using bielschowsky's method of silver impregnation. results: it was observed that the mes v nucleus commenced from the ventral region of the optic tectum to the mid-pons,running along the fourth ventricle and cerebral aqueduct outside the periaqueductal grey. the two mes v nucleus contains about 1400 neurons. these neurons were mostly pseudounipolar consisting mainly of types a (35 -56 μm) and b (20-25 μm). also present were a number of spindles and multipolar neurons. conclusions: the comparatively high number of neurons in the rabbit's mes v nucleus may be due to the fact that rabbits are instinctive behavioural chewers. since it is known that neuronal population and complexity of mes v nucleus is proportional to the masticatory activities of the jaw muscles.