Bolton P, Goto T, Schor RH, Wilson VJ, Yamagata Y, Yates BJ.
Abstr Soc Neurosci. 1991; 17: 317.
Rockefeller University, New York 10021.
To examine the contribution of the reticulospinal (RS) system to vestibulospinal reflexes, we have studied, in the decerebrate cat, responses of medial ponto-medullary RS neurons to natural vestibular stimulation. Neurons projected to neck, lower cervical, thoracic, or lumbar levels, as determined by antidromic stimulation of medial and lateral reticulospinal tracts. Sinusoidal stimuli in vertical planes were used to determine response vector orientation and nature of the vestibular input (otolith, O; canal, C; otolith-canal convergence, O+C; spatial-temporal convergence, STC). Features of the responses of 67 RS neurons were prominent otolith input (32 neurons), less frequent otolith-canal convergence (12 O+C, 6 STC), and only 1 cell with pure canal input; 16 cells could not be fully characterized, although canal input was not apparent. This pattern of vestibular input contrasts sharply with that of vestibulospinal neurons, where the most frequent input is from vertical canals (Wilson et al, JNP 1990). Vector orientations were almost exclusively in the roll quadrants. Our results suggest the RS system plays an important role in the production of gravity-dependent postural reflexes.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Animals
- Cats
- Neck
- Neck Muscles
- Neurons
- Orientation
- Otolithic Membrane
- Pons
- Reflex
- Spinal Cord
- NASA Discipline Neuroscience
- NASA Discipline Number 16-10
- NASA Program Space Physiology and Countermeasures
- Non-NASA Center
Other ID:
UI: 102212632
From Meeting Abstracts