Cell origin of the ventral spinocerebellar tract

The cells of origin of the ventral spinocerebellar tract have never been determined conclusively. We attempted to determine the cell origin of this tract by applying anatomical methods. Retrograde changes were observed in the lumbosacral segments following hemicerebellectomy, severance of cerebellar peduncle or hemisection of spinal cord at various levels. The chromatolytic motor‐type neurons were plotted, most occupying the dorso‐lateral portion of the ventral gray, with fewer cells in the medial, lateral and central part of ventral horn. Ablation of these neurons in different animals resulted in axonal degeneration which could be traced to the cerebellum via chiefly contralateral lateral funiculus and from the ventral spinocerebellar tract. The morphology of the ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons was studied by the Golgi method. Incidental findings of axonal degeneration bilaterally in the dorsal spinocerebellar tracts, with ipsilateral domination, following ablation of the ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons were discussed.