The ventral spino-olivocerebellar system in the cat. V. Supraspinal control of spinal transmission. 1978

B Sjölund

1. The transmission from the flexor reflex afferents (FRA) and from tracts running in the ipsilateral half of the spinal cord to the spino-olivocerebellar paths ascending through the ventral funiculus (VF-SOCPs; Oscarsson and Sjölund, 1977) was compared with the transmission from these sources to segmental reflex arcs. The climbing fibre responses evoked in Purkinje cells by electrical stimulation of limb nerves and spinal tracts were monitored by recording the mass activity at the cerebellar surface simultaneously from several termination zones, while the activity in flexor motoneurones was recorded from a flexor nerve and the primary afferent depolarization from a dorsal filament. 2. Changes in the segmental reflex response were produced by release from the tonic inhibition of transmission from the FRA in decerebrate preparations and by conditioning electrical stimulation of dissected spinal funiculi containing inhibitory descending tracts. 3. The changes of the transmission from the FRA to two of the paths, the a- and b2-VF-SOCPs, parallelled the changes of the transmission to the segmental reflex arcs. On the other hand, the monosynaptic transmission from the FRA to the c1- and c3-VF-SOCPs was not significantly influenced by the inhibitory descending control systems. 4. The a- and b2-VF-SOCPs but not the c1- and c3-VF-SOCPs received polysynaptic excitation from tracts running in the ipsilateral half of the spinal cord. 5. The suggestion that the a- and b2-VF-SOCPs carry information related to interneuronal activity in segmental centres, whereas the c1- and c3-VF-SOCPs forward information mainly related to peripheral events (Andersson and Sjölund, 1978) is supported by the present findings.

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
D009433 Neural Inhibition The function of opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells. Inhibition, Neural
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009847 Olivary Nucleus A brainstem nuclear complex. in the hindbrain, also referred to as the olivary body. The olivary nuclear complex is a part of the MEDULLA OBLONGATA and the PONTINE TEGMENTUM. It is involved with motor control and is a major source of sensory input to the CEREBELLUM. Basal Nucleus, Olivary,Nucleus Basalis, Olivary,Olivary Body,Olivary Complex,Olivary Nuclei,Complex, Olivary,Nucleus, Olivary,Nucleus, Olivary Basal,Olivary Basal Nucleus,Olivary Bodies
D012018 Reflex An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
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
D002531 Cerebellum The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills. Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
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
D006614 Hindlimb Either of two extremities of four-footed non-primate land animals. It usually consists of a FEMUR; TIBIA; and FIBULA; tarsals; METATARSALS; and TOES. (From Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p73) Hindlimbs

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