Responses of neurones in nucleus interpositus of the cerebellum to cutaneous nerve volleys in the awake cat. 1979

D M Armstrong, and J A Rawson

1. A method is described which permitted stable extracellular recordings to be made from 115 neurones in nucleus interpositus of the cerebellum in unanaesthetized free-to-move cats. At least 95% of the neurones were cerebellar efferent cells since they were antidromically invaded following electrical stimulation of the brachium conjunctivum in the region of the contralateral red nucleus. 2. In cats in a state of quiet wakefulness the majority of interpositus neurones were tonically active at rates ranging from 12 to 77 impulses/sec (over-all mean 34/sec). The remaining neurones were silent or discharged only a few impulses throughout observation periods of a few minutes. 3. Cutaneous afferent volleys elicited by single shocks to the superficial radial nerves in the forearm at intensities too weak to evoke a flexion reflex or behavioural arousal produced changes in firing frequency in 62% of eighty-one cells tested. Response patterns varied widely but in 86% of the responding cells the earliest change was a short latency (6--20 ms) increase in discharge probability which from post-stimulus time histograms was found usually to average around one impulse per stimulus. In only four cells (8%) the earliest response was a depression of the tonic firing. However, in many cells the initial acceleration was followed by a reduction in firing frequency which lasted between 10 and 85 ms. 4. In 56% of the responding cells a longer latency (25--80 ms) acceleration was present. Such accelerations varied widely in duration (from 55 to 550 ms) but most commonly lasted 100--200 ms. These responses were usually the most prominent feature in the response pattern: in the majority of neurones between two and five impulses were added per stimulus. 5. Considering the whole time course of the responses, the net effect of nerve volleys was to produce an increase in nuclear cell output. 6. These neurones which were influenced by nerve stimulation also discharged in response to taps to the forepaws. 7. The responses to nerve stimulation are compared with those encountered in previous studies using cats anaesthetized with chloralose or barbiturates and with the responses of Purkinje (P) cells and it is suggested that the longer latency excitatory responses result in large part from a reduction in the tonic inhibitory action exerted on the interpositus neurones by Purkinje cells. 8. The possibility is discussed that interpositus responses to cutaneous input from the limbs might contribute (via the rubrospinal system) to the regulation of spinal flexor mechanisms during locomotion and/or contact placing reactions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009068 Movement The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior. Movements
D009431 Neural Conduction The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus. Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
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
D002529 Cerebellar Nuclei Four clusters of neurons located deep within the WHITE MATTER of the CEREBELLUM, which are the nucleus dentatus, nucleus emboliformis, nucleus globosus, and nucleus fastigii. Dentate Nucleus,Nucleus Dentatus,Nucleus Emboliformis,Nucleus Fastigii,Nucleus Globosus,Amiculum of the Dentate Nucleus,Anterior Interposed Nucleus,Anterior Interpositus Nucleus,Central Nuclei,Deep Cerebellar Nuclei,Dentate Cerebellar Nucleus,Fastigial Cerebellar Nucleus,Fastigial Nucleus,Intracerebellar Nuclei,Lateral Cerebellar Nucleus,Medial Cerebellar Nucleus,Central Nucleus,Cerebellar Nuclei, Deep,Cerebellar Nucleus,Cerebellar Nucleus, Deep,Cerebellar Nucleus, Dentate,Cerebellar Nucleus, Fastigial,Cerebellar Nucleus, Lateral,Cerebellar Nucleus, Medial,Deep Cerebellar Nucleus,Emboliformis, Nucleus,Fastigii, Nucleus,Globosus, Nucleus,Interposed Nucleus, Anterior,Interpositus Nucleus, Anterior,Intracerebellar Nucleus,Nuclei, Central,Nuclei, Cerebellar,Nuclei, Deep Cerebellar,Nuclei, Intracerebellar,Nucleus Fastigius,Nucleus, Anterior Interposed,Nucleus, Anterior Interpositus,Nucleus, Central,Nucleus, Cerebellar,Nucleus, Deep Cerebellar,Nucleus, Dentate,Nucleus, Dentate Cerebellar,Nucleus, Fastigial,Nucleus, Fastigial Cerebellar,Nucleus, Intracerebellar,Nucleus, Lateral Cerebellar,Nucleus, Medial Cerebellar
D003243 Consciousness Sense of awareness of self and of the environment. Consciousnesses
D005071 Evoked Potentials Electrical responses recorded from nerve, muscle, SENSORY RECEPTOR, or area of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM following stimulation. They range from less than a microvolt to several microvolts. The evoked potential can be auditory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, AUDITORY), somatosensory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, SOMATOSENSORY), visual (EVOKED POTENTIALS, VISUAL), or motor (EVOKED POTENTIALS, MOTOR), or other modalities that have been reported. Event Related Potential,Event-Related Potentials,Evoked Potential,N100 Evoked Potential,P50 Evoked Potential,N1 Wave,N100 Evoked Potentials,N2 Wave,N200 Evoked Potentials,N3 Wave,N300 Evoked Potentials,N4 Wave,N400 Evoked Potentials,P2 Wave,P200 Evoked Potentials,P50 Evoked Potentials,P50 Wave,P600 Evoked Potentials,Potentials, Event-Related,Event Related Potentials,Event-Related Potential,Evoked Potential, N100,Evoked Potential, N200,Evoked Potential, N300,Evoked Potential, N400,Evoked Potential, P200,Evoked Potential, P50,Evoked Potential, P600,Evoked Potentials, N100,Evoked Potentials, N200,Evoked Potentials, N300,Evoked Potentials, N400,Evoked Potentials, P200,Evoked Potentials, P50,Evoked Potentials, P600,N1 Waves,N2 Waves,N200 Evoked Potential,N3 Waves,N300 Evoked Potential,N4 Waves,N400 Evoked Potential,P2 Waves,P200 Evoked Potential,P50 Waves,P600 Evoked Potential,Potential, Event Related,Potential, Event-Related,Potential, Evoked,Potentials, Event Related,Potentials, Evoked,Potentials, N400 Evoked,Related Potential, Event,Related Potentials, Event,Wave, N1,Wave, N2,Wave, N3,Wave, N4,Wave, P2,Wave, P50,Waves, N1,Waves, N2,Waves, N3,Waves, N4,Waves, P2,Waves, P50
D005260 Female Females

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