Biomaterial Database

Sympathetic responses evoked by vestibular stimulation and their interactions with somato-sympathetic reflexes. 1980

T Ishikawa, and T Miyazawa

In chloralose anesthetized cats mass reflex discharges of the renal sympathetic nerve were recorded following stimulations of low threshold, large myelinated afferents in vestibular and superficial peroneal nerves. Reflex responses caused by stimuli applied to both nerves were quite similar; a brief excitatory phase was followed by a long inhibitory phase or "silent-period'. Decerebration did not have any appreciable effects on either reflex but decerebellation (in addition to decerebration) greatly increased the excitatory response and shortened the inhibitory phase or "silent period' of the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex. The somato-sympathetic reflex response however, was not much altered by this procedure. When a vestibular nerve stimulus, given as a conditioning shock, preceded a testing stimulus applied to the cutaneous nerve by less than 300 msec, the test response was completely inhibited. The "recovery curve' of this conditioning--testing response showed that after decerebellation the inhibitory effect of vestibular conditioning stimulus on testing response was much reduced. The autonomic effector responses, blood pressure, heart rate and galvanic skin reflex (GSR) following low intensity stimulation of vestibular and cutaneous nerves were also studied. Repetitive stimulations applied to either nerves evoked a depressor response kand augmented GSRs but caused no significant changes in heart rate. Decerebellation reduced the depressor response produced by repetitive stimulation of vestibular nerves. The study indicates that vestibular nerves, as well as cutaneous afferents, which are powerful imputs for evoking somatic reactions, also elicit autonomic reflexes and that similarity and interactions between sympathetic reactions evoked by these two inputs suggest a common central mechanism.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008297	Male		Males
D010525	Peripheral Nerves	The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium.	Endoneurium,Epineurium,Perineurium,Endoneuriums,Epineuriums,Nerve, Peripheral,Nerves, Peripheral,Perineuriums,Peripheral Nerve
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
D005260	Female		Females
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