Multiple vibrissae sensory regions in rat cerebellum: a (14C) 2-deoxyglucose study. 1985

F R Sharp, and M F Gonzalez

Repetitive tactile sensory stimulation of the right mystacial vibrissae (whiskers) was performed in awake, adult rats. Regions of increased (14C) 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake were mapped autoradiographically in cerebellum. Predominantly ipsilateral activation of multiple discrete granule cell regions occurred in paramedian lobule, crus 2, crus 1, lobulus simplex, and anterior lobe hemisphere. Bilateral and contralateral activation of cerebellum did occur. Multiple small patches, as well as large granule cell regions, were activated. Mossy fiber afferents from the spinal trigeminal nuclei (particularly interpolaris), principal trigeminal sensory nucleus, and superior colliculus could account for metabolic activation of the granular layer. The slight metabolic activation of the molecular layer could have occurred from climbing or parallel fibers. Comparisons of the paramedian lobule granule cell regions activated during repetitive sensory stimulation of the vibrissae (RSSV) to those activated during vibrissae motor cortex stimulation (VMIS) showed regions only activated by RSSV, regions only activated by VMIS, and regions activated by both RSSV and VMIS. The granule cell regions activated during RSSV and VMIS were usually adjacent to or overlapping each other. Regions only activated during RSSV or only during VMIS could represent technical problems in trying to compare vibrissae motor and sensory pathways in two different groups of animals. Alternatively, cerebellar regions activated only during RSSV could process vibrissae tactile inputs. Regions activated only during VMIS could process vibrissae motor and perhaps proprioceptive sensory input. Regions activated during both RSSV and VMIS might process vibrissae proprioceptive sensory input and/or might represent loci where vibrissae motor, proprioceptive sensory, and tactile sensory convergence occur. The results raise the possibility that vibrissae motor, proprioceptive sensory, and tactile sensory pathways could be processed in separate granule cell patches in parts of cerebellum and in the same granule cell patches in other parts of cerebellum.

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
D011434 Proprioception Sensory functions that transduce stimuli received by proprioceptive receptors in joints, tendons, muscles, and the INNER EAR into neural impulses to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Proprioception provides sense of stationary positions and movements of one's body parts, and is important in maintaining KINESTHESIA and POSTURAL BALANCE. Labyrinthine Sense,Position Sense,Posture Sense,Sense of Equilibrium,Vestibular Sense,Sense of Position,Equilibrium Sense,Sense, Labyrinthine,Sense, Position,Sense, Posture,Sense, Vestibular
D011919 Rats, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding. August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
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
D005260 Female Females
D000344 Afferent Pathways Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center. Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
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
D014110 Touch Sensation of making physical contact with objects, animate or inanimate. Tactile stimuli are detected by MECHANORECEPTORS in the skin and mucous membranes. Tactile Sense,Sense of Touch,Taction,Sense, Tactile,Senses, Tactile,Tactile Senses,Tactions,Touch Sense,Touch Senses
D014738 Vibrissae Stiff hairs projecting from the face around the nose of most mammals, acting as touch receptors. Whiskers,Whisker

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