Biomaterial Database

Parallel suppression of extensor muscle tone and respiration by stimulation of pontine dorsal tegmentum in decerebrate cat. 1988

K Kawahara, and Y Nakazono, and S Kumagai, and Y Yamauchi, and Y Miyamoto

Department of Information Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Japan.

This paper describes the pontine brainstem area responsible for the suppression of postural muscle tone as well as of respiration in acute precollicular-postmammillary decerebrate (mesencephalic) cats. Stimulation of the dorsal part of the pontine tegmentum (DTF) along the midline (P4-P7, H-5 to H-6) decreased the bilateral tone of the hindlimb extensor muscles and the diaphragmatic activity. Tonic discharges of the extensor muscles were suppressed by DTF stimulation and the suppression of muscle activity continued for more than 5 min after termination of the stimulation. In contrast, the suppression of the diaphragmatic activity, which resulted in apnea in some of the animals tested, resumed in spite of the continuation of the stimulation. However, the rebound augmentation of the diaphragmatic activity appeared immediately after the termination of the stimulation. The existence of such a rebound phenomenon suggested that the suppressive effects on the diaphragmatic activity persisted during the entire period of the stimulation. The recovery of respiratory movements during the stimulation led us to suggest that the strong respiratory drives emerge to overcome the exerted DTF-elicited suppressive effects on respiration. In the paralyzed and vagotomized animal, the DTF-elicited suppressive effects on phrenic neural discharges were minimal when the end-tidal pCO2 was set at a higher level than during spontaneous breathing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009129	Muscle Tonus	The state of activity or tension of a muscle beyond that related to its physical properties, that is, its active resistance to stretch. In skeletal muscle, tonus is dependent upon efferent innervation. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle Tension,Muscle Tightness,Muscular Tension,Tension, Muscle,Tension, Muscular,Tightness, Muscle,Tonus, Muscle
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D011149	Pons	The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM.	Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D012119	Respiration	The act of breathing with the LUNGS, consisting of INHALATION, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of EXHALATION, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more CARBON DIOXIDE than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration (	Breathing
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
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
D003964	Diaphragm	The musculofibrous partition that separates the THORACIC CAVITY from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity aiding INHALATION.	Respiratory Diaphragm,Diaphragm, Respiratory,Diaphragms,Diaphragms, Respiratory,Respiratory Diaphragms
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