Abstract
The spinal projections of afferent fibers innervating the facet joints between caudal vertebrae were examined by the use of anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin−horseradish peroxidase(WGA−HRP).Experiments were performed on 5 adult cats in which spinal dorsal roots below the 2nd sacral segment(S2)on the right side were cut.Injections of WGA−HRP into the caudal facet joints gave rise to extensive cranio−caudal distribution of WGA−HRP positive products along the spinal cord, indicating that many afferent fibers innervating unilateral facet joints terminate bilaterally in laminae I−II, V−VI and X of the thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal spinal cord.These afferent fibers may convey a series of sensory information from the caudal facet joints to the spinal cord.
