The organization of the brainstem nuclei associated with the vagus nerve in the Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). A neurohistological study.

A total of six adult animals were used for the study. Following anaesthesia via intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of ketamin and bombazine in ratio 2:1, thoracotomy was performed to exteriorize the heart for intracardial perfusion. The perfusion canular was inserted into the left ventricle and animal perfused sequentially with normal saline and 10% formal saline. Following perfusion, craniotomy was performed to remove the entire brain along with the upper segments of the spinal cord. The brain specimen was then dehydrated, cleared and infiltrated with paraffin wax. The specimen was then cut in 15 micron thick serial sections. The sections were then processed for neurohistological analyses using a Nikon microscope to which was attached Nikon camera. Analyses of the sections revealed bilateral representation of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in the medulla oblongata. The nucleus ambiguus, nucleus of the tractus solitarius, hypoglossal nucleus and the area postrema were also identified in the medulla oblongata. The implications of our findings are discussed in the text of the article.