SOMATOTOPIC REPRESENTATION IN GASSERIAN GANGLION OF TACTILE PERIPHERAL FIELDS IN CAT

In cats, after decerebration, the exposed trigeminal ganglia were studied electrophysiologically. Vertical microelectrode penetrations of the ganglia in cellular areas yielded unit responses which could readily be related to the types and sizes of peripheral fields. The units included in this study were all sensitive to touch of extra- and intraoral structures, and the majority were either hair receptors or tactile receptors of the teeth. Cell bodies in the ganglia related to opthalmic division peripheral fields are located medially in the ganglia, mandibular division cells laterally, with maxillary division cells between. A study of the dorso-ventral lamination of cells showed cells innervating peripheral field farthest from the mouth to be located dorsally in the ganglia while perioral and intraoral structures are innervated by cells near the ventral surface. © 1968.