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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The Edinger-Westphal Nucleus: A Historical, Structural, and Functional Perspective on a Dichotomous Terminology

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Author(s):
Kozicz, Tamas [1] ; Bittencourt, Jackson C. [2, 3] ; May, Paul J. [4, 5, 6] ; Reiner, Anton [7] ; Gamlin, Paul D. R. [8] ; Palkovits, Miklos [9, 10] ; Horn, Anja K. E. [11] ; Toledo, Claudio A. B. [12] ; Ryabinin, Andrey E. [13]
Total Authors: 9
Affiliation:
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[1] Radboud Univ Nijmegen, Donders Inst Brain Cognit & Behav, Dept Cellular Anim Physiol, NL-6525 AJ Nijmegen - Netherlands
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Anat, Lab Chem Neuroanat, BR-05311970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Ctr Neurosci & Behav, BR-05311970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Mississippi, Med Ctr, Dept Anat, Jackson, MS 39216 - USA
[5] Univ Mississippi, Med Ctr, Dept Ophthalmol, Jackson, MS 39216 - USA
[6] Univ Mississippi, Med Ctr, Dept Neurol, Jackson, MS 39216 - USA
[7] Univ Tennessee, Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Anat & Neurobiol, Memphis, TN 38163 - USA
[8] Univ Alabama Birmingham, Dept Vis Sci, Birmingham, AL 35294 - USA
[9] Hungarian Acad Sci, Neuromorphol & Neuroendocrine Res Lab, H-1085 Budapest - Hungary
[10] Semmelweis Univ, H-1085 Budapest - Hungary
[11] Univ Munich, Inst Anat 1, D-80336 Munich - Germany
[12] Univ Cidade Sao Paulo, BR-65057420 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[13] Oregon Hlth & Sci Univ, Dept Behav Neurosci, Portland, OR 97239 - USA
Total Affiliations: 13
Document type: Review article
Source: JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY; v. 519, n. 8, p. 1413-1434, JUN 1 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 98
Abstract

The eponymous term nucleus of Edinger-Westphal (EW) has come to be used to describe two juxtaposed and somewhat intermingled cell groups of the midbrain that differ dramatically in their connectivity and neurochemistry. On one hand, the classically defined EW is the part of the oculomotor complex that is the source of the parasympathetic preganglionic motoneuron input to the ciliary ganglion (CG), through which it controls pupil constriction and lens accommodation. On the other hand, EW is applied to a population of centrally projecting neurons involved in sympathetic, consumptive, and stress-related functions. This terminology problem arose because the name EW has historically been applied to the most prominent cell collection above or between the somatic oculomotor nuclei (III), an assumption based on the known location of the preganglionic motoneurons in monkeys. However, in many mammals, the nucleus designated as EW is not made up of cholinergic, preganglionic motoneurons supplying the CG and instead contains neurons using peptides, such as urocortin 1, with diverse central projections. As a result, the literature has become increasingly confusing. To resolve this problem, we suggest that the term EW be supplemented with terminology based on connectivity. Specifically, we recommend that 1) the cholinergic, preganglionic neurons supplying the CG be termed the Edinger-Westphal preganglionic (EWpg) population and 2) the centrally projecting, peptidergic neurons be termed the Edinger-Westphal centrally projecting (EWcp) population. The history of this nomenclature problem and the rationale for our solutions are discussed in this review. J. Comp. Neurol. 519: 1413-1434, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 04/13849-5 - Peptidergic pathways involved in the organization of feeding behavior
Grantee:Jackson Cioni Bittencourt
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants