The architecture of cranial and non-cranial nerve nuclei in the medulla oblongata of the African giant pouched rat was studied by means of light microscopy. Serial sections of the medulla oblongata, in coronal and saggital planes, were stained with the cresyl fast violet and silver stains, respectively. Sections in the saggital plane were used as a guide, while coronal sections were used to identify the nuclei in the rostrocaudal extent of the medulla oblongata. With the obex serving as the landmark, nuclei rostral and caudal to the obex were delineated. Cranial nerve nuclei whose architecture were defined were the motor nucleus of hypoglossal nerve, motor nucleus of vagus nerve, cochlear nucleus, vestibular nucleus and nucleus ambiguus, while non-cranial... |