Connections between utricular nerve and dorsal neck motoneurons of the decerebrate cat. 1992

P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.

1. We studied connections between the utricular (UT) nerve and dorsal neck motoneurons in decerebrate cats. Electrodes were fixed in place on the UT nerve under visual observation; the other branches of the vestibular nerve were transected. 2. The N1 field potential evoked by UT nerve stimulation was recorded in the vestibular nuclei at the start of each experiment. The potential typically grew until it reached a plateau. Stimulus spread (if any) to the central ends of other nerve branches was revealed by an additional increase in N1 amplitude after the plateau was reached. 3. We recorded intracellularly from 55 motoneurons in C1-C3. Some were identified as having axons in the dorsal rami, which innervate dorsal neck muscles. Others projected in nerves that were not available for stimulation. 4. UT nerve stimulation evoked synaptic potentials in essentially all motoneurons studied. The predominant pattern consisted of disynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials in ipsilateral motoneurons and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials that were at least trisynaptic in contralateral motoneurons. 5. The results demonstrate the presence of short-latency connections between the utricular nerve and dorsal neck motoneurons. The functional role of this pathway remains to be investigated.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D003655 Decerebrate State A condition characterized by abnormal posturing of the limbs that is associated with injury to the brainstem. This may occur as a clinical manifestation or induced experimentally in animals. The extensor reflexes are exaggerated leading to rigid extension of the limbs accompanied by hyperreflexia and opisthotonus. This condition is usually caused by lesions which occur in the region of the brainstem that lies between the red nuclei and the vestibular nuclei. In contrast, decorticate rigidity is characterized by flexion of the elbows and wrists with extension of the legs and feet. The causative lesion for this condition is located above the red nuclei and usually consists of diffuse cerebral damage. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p358) Decerebrate Posturing,Decorticate Rigidity,Decorticate State,Rigidity, Decerebrate,Rigidity, Decorticate,Decerebrate Posturings,Decerebrate Rigidity,Decerebrate States,Decorticate Rigidities,Decorticate States,Posturing, Decerebrate,Posturings, Decerebrate,Rigidities, Decorticate,State, Decerebrate,States, Decerebrate
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012444 Saccule and Utricle Two membranous sacs within the vestibular labyrinth of the INNER EAR. The saccule communicates with COCHLEAR DUCT through the ductus reuniens, and communicates with utricle through the utriculosaccular duct from which the ENDOLYMPHATIC DUCT arises. The utricle and saccule have sensory areas (acoustic maculae) which are innervated by the VESTIBULAR NERVE. Otolithic Organs,Utricle,Saccule,Organ, Otolithic,Otolithic Organ,Saccules,Utricle and Saccule,Utricles
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse

Related Publications

P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
January 1994, Experimental brain research,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
January 1977, Journal of neurophysiology,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
June 1986, Brain research,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
June 1999, Experimental brain research,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
January 1997, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
January 1997, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
May 1969, Brain research,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
January 1998, Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
September 1981, Journal of neurophysiology,
P S Bolton, and K Endo, and T Goto, and M Imagawa, and M Sasaki, and Y Uchino, and V J Wilson
May 1992, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
Copied contents to your clipboard!