Control Pathways from the Subcortical Limbic Structures to the Trigeminal Motor System in the Lower Brainstem: A Hodological Review

Yukihiko Yasui^*

Department of Anatomy and Morphological Neuroscience, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/nm.2015.61005                

Abstract

The organization of the emotion-related somatic motor behavior, including jaw movements, is governed not only by the cortical limbic system but also by the subcortical limbic system including the amygdala and hypothalamus. GABAergic neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) and glutamatergic neurons in the posterior lateral hypothalamus (PLH) exert inhibitory and excitatory influences, respectively, upon premotor neurons for the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm) in the parvicellular reticular formation (RFp) of the medulla oblongata. The CeA also has an inhibitory influence on non-dopaminergic (probably GABAergic) neurons in the retrorubral field of the midbrain that send their axons to the RFp. Furthermore, the CeA and lateral hypothalamus including the PLH may also modulate Vm neurons via projections to the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus which contains the cell bodies of primary afferent neurons conveying inputs from the masticatory muscle spindles or the periodontal ligament receptors to jaw closing motoneurons within the Vm. These pathways from the subcortical limbic structures to the trigeminal motor system in the lower brainstem underlie the regulation of emotional jaw movements.

Keywords

Amygdala, Hypothalamus, Motor Trigeminal Nucleus, Jaw Movement, Emotion

1. Introduction

Jaw movements are carried out mainly by muscles attached to the mandibular bone, such as the masticatory and suprahyoid muscles. The masticatory muscles as well as the mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle are innervated by motoneurons in the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm). Within the Vm, the neurons innervating each muscle are assembled and constitute subgroups. The motoneurons innervating the jaw-closing muscles, such as the masseteric and tempolaris muscles, are assembled in the dorsolateral part of the Vm (Vm-dl), whereas those innervating the jaw-opening muscles, such as the mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle, are assembled in the ventromedial part of the Vm (Vm-vm).

The organization of the emotion-related somatic motor behavior, including jaw movements, is governed by neural circuits in the limbic system, which include the amygdala, hypothalamus, and several regions of the cerebral cortex. The amygdala has been known to play a crucial role in the development and expression of emotional behavior, such as the fear reaction and defense response (for review, see [1] - [3] ), and has been considered to participate in the control mechanism of jaw movements [4] - [7] . On the other hand, the hypothalamus has been known to be involved in a variety of functions, including not only the control of endocrine and autonomic functions but also motivated and emotional behaviors (for review, see [8] ). It is also known that electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus induces attacks or defense responses in which opening and closing movement of jaws is one of the obvious elements [9] - [11] .

In this communication, I summarize recent neuroanatomical and neurochemical studies on the control pathways to the Vm from the subcortical limbic structures, such as the amygdala and hypothalamus.

2. Premotor neuron pools for Vm

Jaw movements are carried out by Vm motoneurons activated by inputs from the periphery and/or from the upper motor centers. Most of these inputs are transmitted to the Vm via interneurons called premotor neurons. The Vm-premotor neurons send their axons directly to the Vm and many of them are distributed in the lower brainstem, such as the pons and medulla oblongata [12] - [14] . In particular, most of them are found in the sensory trigeminal nuclei including the mesencephalic, principal and spinal trigeminal nuclei, as well as in the lateral reticular formation including the reticular formation around the Vm, parvicellular reticular nucleus (RFp), and intermediate reticular nucleus (IRt) of the pontomedullary and medullary brainstem (Figure 1); the reticular formation around the Vm adjoins the RFp, and includes the supratrigeminal region dorsal to the Vm, intertri- geminal region between the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and the Vm, juxtatrigeminal region medial to the Vm and reticular formation ventral to the Vm. The Vm-premotor neurons, except for neurons of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Vmes), are generally distributed bilaterally, and play an important role in the initiation and regulation of jaw movements by acting as interneurons in the brainstem reflexes, as well as by transmit- ting information from the upper motor centers to the Vm motoneurons. On the other hand, Vmes neurons that innervate jaw-closing muscle spindles and periodontal mechanoreceptors [15] - [17] send their axons ipsilaterally

(a) (b)

Figure 1. Illustrations showing the premotor neuron pools for the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm) in the pons (a) and medulla oblongata (b). In (a), cross-hatched area, hatched area, cross-hatched area with small dots and hatched area with small dots indicate intertrigeminal region (Vint), juxtatrigeminal region (Vjuxt), supratrigeminal region (Vsup) and reticular formation ventral to the Vm (Vvent), respectively. In (b), cross-hatched area and hatched area indicate parvicellular reticular formation (RFp) and intermediate reticular nucleus (RFi), respectively. A, ambiguus nucleus; f, facial nerve; IO, inferior olivary complex; mes, mesencephalic trigeminal tract; NST, nucleus of the solitary tract; p, pyramis; SO, superior olivary complex; t, spinal trigeminal tract; Vsp, spinal trigeminal nucleus; Vp, principal trigeminal nucleus; XII, hypoglossal nucleus.

to Vm motoneurons for controlling jaw movements [16] [18] .

3. Descending pathways from the amygdala to the Vm

3.1. Neuroanatomical organization

As for the possible pathways relaying output signals of the amygdala to the Vm, the direct pathway from the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) to the Vm has been suggested by Mascaro et al. [19] , who observed retrograde- labeled neurons in the CeA after injecting Fluoro-gold (FG) into the Vm. However, studies using injection of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the CeA have shown BDA-labeled fibers with bouton-like varicosities around the Vm but not within the Vm, suggesting the unlikely existence of a direct CeA-Vm pathway [20] [21] . On the other hand, the disynaptic pathway from the CeA to the Vm via the supratrigeminal region [22] or via the RFp of the pons [23] has been suggested by anatomical studies using a combined degeneration and horseradish peroxidase method. A physiological study [6] also indicated the existence of disynaptic inputs from the amygdala to the Vm motoneurons mediated by the supratrigeminal region. It is well known, however, that the descending fibers from the CeA are distributed in the RFp not only of the pons but also of the medulla oblongata [24] - [26] . Furthermore, the RFp of the medulla oblongata contains many trigeminal premotor neurons that project directly to the Vm [12] - [14] [27] [28] . Taken together, these data make it likely that the CeA also exerts its influences on the regulation of jaw movements through the pathway from the CeA to the Vm via the RFp of the medulla oblongata. We therefore demonstrated the existence of a CeA-RFp-Vm pathway by using a combination of anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques [20] . When ipsilateral injections of BDA into the CeA and cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) into the Vm were made in the rat, the prominent overlapping distribution of BDA-labeled axons and CTb-labeled neurons was found in the RFp region just ventral to the nucleus of the solitary tract and medial to the spinal trigeminal nucleus throughout the caudalmost part of the pons and the rostral half of the medulla oblongata (Figure 2). Within the neuropil of the RFp region, BDA-labeled axons made symmetrical synaptic contacts predominantly with dendrites and additionally with somata of the RFp neurons, some of which were labeled with CTb.

According to Gonzales and Chesselet [29] , a dense projection from the CeA is observed in the lateral part of the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta as well as in the SN pars lateralis. Not only the lateral part of the SN pars reticulata but also the lateral part of the SN pars compacta and SN pars lateralis have been known to contain neurons projecting to the reticular region around the Vm [30] , as well as to the RFp of the medulla oblongata [31] . Taken together, these data suggest the likely occurrence of a disynaptic pathway from the CeA to the RFp via the SN, which is also considered to be responsible for the control of jaw movements. Experiments using electron microscopy will be necessary in order to establish the existence of this disynaptic pathway.

Gonzales and Chesselet [29] , and Wallace et al. [32] have shown that CeA fibers are also densely distributed in the lateral part of the retrorubral field (RRF); the RRF has been considered to be involved in the orofacial motor function [33] [34] . Furthermore, the RRF region contains a population of neurons sending their axons to the RFp of the medullary and pontomedullary brainstem [35] [36] . Judging from the above, it seems probable that the output signals from the CeA have direct influence on the retrorubroreticular pathway in the control of jaw movements. After ipsilateral injections of BDA into theCeA and FG into the RFp, we demonstrated that the prominent overlapping distribution of BDA-labeled axon terminals and FG-labeled neurons was found in the lateral part of the RRF ipsilateral to the injection sites (Figure 3), where the BDA-labeled axon terminals made symmetrical synapses with somata and dendrites of the FG-labeled neurons [37] .

Furthermore, the CeA sends projection fibers to the Vmes and Vmes neurons are closely apposed by CeA axonal varicosities [21] [38] ; the Vmes contains the somata of primary afferent neurons whose peripheral processes are associated with the muscle spindles of jaw-closing muscles and mechanoreceptors within the periodontal ligaments and most of the central processes terminate in the Vm. Recently, Shirasu et al. [39] showed that many CeA fibers with terminal boutons are distributed in the caudal Vmes and that a part of these terminal buttons formed axo-somatic synapses with Vmes neurons, suggesting that the CeA regulates bite strength by modifying neuronal activity in the Vmes.

3.2. Neurochemical organization

With respect to the neurotransmitter of the CeA neurons, recent in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that

Figure 2. Line drawings showing the sites of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) injection into the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) (shaded area in (a)) and cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) injection into the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm) (shaded area in (b)), and resulting anterograde and retrograde labeling in the lower brainstem ipsilateral to the injection sites ((b)-(e), rostral to caudal). BDA-labeled fibers and terminals are presented by fine lines and fine dots, respectively. CTb-labeled cell bodies are presented by filled circles, each of which represents about two labeled cell bodies. ACo, anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus; BL, basolateralamygdaloid nucleus; BM, basomedialamygdaloid nucleus; caudate-putamen; CPU, caudate-putamen; DMV, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve; E, endopiriform nucleus; GP, globuspallidus; I, interstitial amygdaloid nucleus; ic, internal capsule; La, lateral amygdaloid nucleus; LR, lateral reticular nucleus; ot, optic tract; Me, medial amygdaloid nucleus; PH, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus; Pir, piriform cortex; Ve, vestibular nucleus; Vi, interpolarsubnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus; Vo, oral subnucleus of the spinal trigeminal nucleus; VII, facial nucleus. Other abbreviations are as shown in Figure 1.

almost all the CeA neurons are positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 mRNA [40] and GAD67 mRNA [41] but not for vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) 1 mRNA [40] and VGLUT2 mRNA [40] [41] ; GAD is an enzyme that converts glutamate to GABA and is a marker for GABAergic neurons, while VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 are a marker for glutamatergic neurons. These data support the idea that CeA neurons are GABAergic. Recently, we demonstrated for the first time that almost all the CeA axon terminals in the RRF are immunoreactive for GAD [37] . Such GABAergicCeA axon terminals have also been observed in other brainstem regions including the parabrachial nucleus [42] and nucleus of the solitary tract [43] [44] , as well as in the forebrain regions including the parastrial nucleus [45] and lateral hypothalamic area [46] [47] .

The SN contains many dopaminergic neurons, which are distributed mainly in the pars compacta, referred to as the A9 dopamine cell group. The RRF also contains numerous dopaminergic neurons that are referred to as the A8 dopamine cell group. However, SN neurons projecting to the brainstem regions, such as the inferior colliculus [48] and reticular formation around the Vm [30] , have been revealed not to be immunonegative for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of catecholamine. Recently, we also demonstrated that RRF neurons projecting to the RFp are not immunonegative for TH [37] . Taken together, these data suggest that both the SN and RRF neurons sending their axons to the lower brainstem are non-dopaminergic and probably GABAergic [49] . Studies combining retrograde tract-tracing with immunolabeling for GABA or GAD or with in situ hybridization for GAD mRNA should help to demonstrate this idea.

The RFp is heterogeneous with respect to neurotransmitter phenotypes; glutamatergic, GABAergic, cholinergic, and nitrergic neurons are all found in the RFp [50] . According to Pang et al. [51] , VGLUT2-immunoreactive axon terminals, which are distributed in both the Vm-dl and the Vm-vm, originate from Vm-premotor neurons. Travers et al. [50] indicated that approximately half of Vm-premotor neurons in the RFp and IRt are immunoreactive for VGLUT2. On the other hand, it has been reported that inhibitory Vm-premotor neurons immuno

Figure 3. Line drawings illustrating the sites of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) injection into the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) (shaded area in (a)) and Fluoro-gold (FG) injection into the parvicellular reticular formation(shaded area in (e)), and resulting distributions of BDA-labeled terminals (small dots) and FG-labeled neurons (large dots) in the retrorubral field (RRF) region ((b)-(d), rostral to caudal). Each RRF region in the midbrain section (b)-(d) is enlarged in (b)-(d), respectively. Amb, ambiguous nucleus; cp, cerebral peduncle; Den, dorsal endopiriform nucleus; IP, interpeduncular nucleus; ml, medial lemniscus; PAG, periaqueductal gray; PLCo, posterolateral cortical nucleus; Pn, pontine nucleus; PrH, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus; py, pyramis; R, red nucleus; SC, superior colliculus; SNr, substantia nigra pars reticulata; SpVe, spinal vestibular nucleus; SP5, spinal trigeminal nucleus; sp5, spinal trigeminal tract; III, oculomotor nucleus. Other abbreviations are as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

reactive for GAD or glycine are also distributed in the RFp [52] . Recently, Travers et al. [50] indicated that a quarter of Vm-premotor neurons in the RFp and IRt are immunoreactive for GAD65/67. Travers et al. [50] also indicated that relatively few Vm-premotor neurons in the RFp and IRt are either nitrergicor cholinergic.

Vmes neurons have been indicated to be glutaminergic [53] [54] . A recent study revealed that VGLUT1 is expressed in both the central axon terminals and the peripheral sensory endings of Vmes neurons and further that VGLUT1 mRNA is expressed in the cell bodies of Vmes neurons [55] . These data suggest that Vmes neurons are glutamatergic.

4. Descending pathways from the hypothalamus to the Vm

4.1. Neuroanatomical organization

The hypothalamic projection to the Vm has been examined by using retrograde tracers [19] [56] . McGregor et al. [56] found retrogradely labeled neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, perifornical nucleus and LHA after CTb injection into the Vm. Furthermore, Mascaro et al. [19] observed retrogradely labeled neurons in the posterior lateral hypothalamus (PLH) region just medial to the subthalamic nucleus after FG injection into the Vm; this PLH region has been identified as the parasubthalamic nucleus by Wang and Zang [57] . However, we found only some passing BDA-labeled fibers without bouton-like varicosities within the Vm after BDA injection into the PLH, suggesting the unlikely existence of a direct PLH-Vm pathway [58] . There have been no anterograde tracing studies to indicate the direct hypothalamo-Vm projections from the paraventricular, dorsomedial, and perifornical nuclei as well as from the LHA although a couple of peptidergic projections from the LHA to the Vm have been reported as describe below.

Shammah-Lagnado et al. [59] investigated the afferent connection of the rat RFp systematically by using retrograde tracing with horseradish peroxidase, and indicated that RFp-projecting hypothalamic neurons are located predominantly in the LHA, additionally in the parvicellular division of the paraventricular nucleus, and occasionally in the dorsomedial nucleus. Recently, we observed nearly the same distribution pattern of RFp- projecting hypothalamic neurons and indicated that the highest number of RFp-projecting neurons is located in the PLH region just medial to the subthalamic nucleus [58] . Using a combined anterograde and retrograde tracing technique, we further showed that the prominent overlapping distribution of PLH fibers and Vm-premotor neurons in the RFp region just ventral to the nucleus of the solitary tract and medial to the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Figure 4), and that the PLH axon terminals make an asymmetrical synaptic contact predominantly with dendrites and additionally with somata of the RFp neurons, some of which were labeled with CTb injected into the Vm.

Interestingly, anterograde tracing studies with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin [60] [61] or with BDA [46] have been indicated that the PLH receives a dense projection from the CeA. In light of these data, it seems likely that RFp-projecting PLH neurons are under the direct influence of the CeA.

4.2. Neurochemical organization

Neumerous hypothalamic neurons labeled with CTb injected into the Vm region have been revealed to display glutamate-like immunoreactivity [56] . Recently, VGLUT has been considered to be a much better marker for glutamatergic neurons [62] , and it has been reported that LHA neurons express predominantly VGLUT2 mRNA and additionally VGLUT1 mRNA [63] . In addition, the axon terminals with glutamate immunoreactivity [64] - [66] or with VGLUT2 immunoreactivity [67] have been reported to make asymmetrical synapses with their target structures. In accordance with the above-mentioned data, we demonstrated that the PLH axon terminals with VGLUT2 immunoreactivity make asymmetrical synapses with RFp neurons, suggesting that glutamatergic PLH neurons exert excitatory influence upon RFp neurons.

Figure 4. Line drawings showing the sites of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) injection into the posterior lateral hypothalamus (shaded area in (a)) and cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) injection into the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm) (shaded area in (b)), and resulting anterograde and retrograde labeling in the lower brainstem ipsilateral to the injection sites ((b)-(e), rostral to caudal). BDA-labeled fibers and terminals are presented by fine lines and fine dots, respectively. CTb-labeled cell bodies are presented by filled circles, each of which represents about two labeled cell bodies. Arc, arcuate nucleus; Cu, cuneate nucleus; ECu, external cuneate nucleus; F, nucleus of the fields of Forel; fx, fornix; icp, inferior cerebellar peduncle; mt, mam- millothalamic tract; MVe, medial vestibular nucleus; PM, premammillary nucleus; Pr, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus; SPF, subparafacicular nucleus; st, solitary tract; STh, subthalamic nucleus; ZI, zona incerta. Other abbreviations are as shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5. Summary diagram showing the control pathways from the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) and posterior lateral hypothalamus (PLH) to the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm), both subcortical limbic structures control jaw movements through their direct projections to Vm-premotor neurons in the reticular formation (RF) around the Vm in the pons, parvicellular reticular formation (RFp) in the pontomedullary and medullary brainstem, as well as in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Vmes). In addition, the CeA control jaw movements through its indirect projections to these premotor neuron pools via the substantia nigra (SN)/retrorubral field (RRF). The neurotransmitter(s) used in each pathway are also indicated. Glu, glutamate; Gly, glycine.

As for the neuropeptides, by using retrograde tracing in combination with immunohistochemical methods, recent studies in the cat [68] and rat [69] have demonstrated at the light microscopic level that hypothalamic orexinergic/hypocretinergic fibers are in contact with Vm motoneurons, although there are only sparse orexinergic fibers in the Vm. More recently, Mascaro et al. [38] demonstrated that orexinergic fibers are distributed in the Vm and that approximately one-third of the LHA neurons sending their axons to the Vm are immunoreactive for orexin. McGregor et al. [56] , who also found orexinergic Vm-premotor neurons in the LHA, further indicated that Vm-premotor neurons in the LHA as well as in the perifornical nucleus are immunoreactive for melanin concentrating hormone (MCH). Saito et al. [70] have demonstrated that MCH-immunoreactive fibers are distributed in the Vm where many neurons express MCH receptor mRNA, suggesting that the MCH system may be related to the processes underlying mastication. Mascaro et al. [38] and Zhang and Luo [69] have also observed orexin-immunoreactive fibers in the Vmes where they closely contact the Vmes neuronal somata, suggesting that orexinergic fibers are involved not only in the control of mastication but also in the genesis of nocturnal bruxism.

5. Conclusion

This article summarizes neuroanatomical and neurochemical organization of the control pathways to the Vm from the subcortical limbic structures, such as the amygdala and hypothalamus. The summary diagram is shown in Figure 5. The CeA and PLH innervate the Vm through their direct or indirect projections to Vm-premotor neurons including RFp and Vmes neurons. These projections belong to the lateral component of the emotional motor system that controls specific emotional motor activities (see [71] [72] , for review). The RFp is the major premotor neuron pool not only for the Vm but also for the facial and hypoglossal nuclei. Therefore, the amygdala and hypothalamus are thought to control the orofacial muscles during aggression, freezing or other emotional behaviors through their projections to the orofacial motor nuclei via the RFp.

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful for the support of Drs. R. Fujimoto, K. Fujita, T. Goeku, M. Kuzushima, T. Mukai, Y. Munenaga, T. Sakurai, Y. Sakurai, H. Taguchi, K. Tanaka, K. Urashima, H. Yamaoka, S. Yamazaki and K. Yoshida. This study was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (19500294, 21500325 and 24500412) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan.

NOTES

^*Corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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