Electrophysiological projections of pulvinar-lateralis posterior complex (P-LP) upon superior colliculus units in the cat

The effect of Pulvinar-Lateral Posterior (P-LP) electrical stimulation on superior colliculus unitary responses and eye movements is analyzed in 17 encéphale isolé cats. Twelve of them were curarized. Out of a total of 190 recorded units, 117 were localized in the superior colliculus and 73 units in the Mesencephalic Reticular Formation (MRF) below the superior colliculus. Thirty eight per cent (n = 45) of the collicular units modified their discharge frequency when the ipsilateral P-LP was electrically stimulated. The current intensity thresholds of transynaptic activation had a range between 0.5 and 2.0 mA. Most of the orthodromic responses were produced by ipsilateral P-LP stimulation and were localized in the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus. Three types of responses were obtained: short latency responses between 2 and 10 ms (57%); intermediate latency responses between 15 and 40 ms (29%), and long latency responses between 50 and 200 ms (14%). Thirty one per cent (n = 18) of the units recorded in the MRF responded to P-LP stimulation with 10 ms pulse-trains duration. In the MRF 3 types of responses were observed: 1) a decrease or blockade in the resting discharge during 20 to 100 ms after stimulation (20%); simple responses with a latency between 25 and 150 ms (40%), and complex responses with an early response and a latency between 15-40 ms, and a late response with a latency between 150 and 200 ms (40%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

电刺激蝙蝠中脑上丘对下丘听神经元电活动的影响

实验在24只鲁氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophus rouxi)上进行.使用玻璃微电极在中脑下丘中央核记录听神经元电反应.刺激点位于上丘核.共观察了294个对超声刺激产生反应的下丘听单位.当电刺激上丘时,有122个听单位的反应受到影响,占所观察总数的41.5%.其中96个单位表现为抑制性影响(占32.65%),26个单位表现为易代性效应(占8.84%).其余172个单位不受上丘刺激的影响(58.50%).实验中发现,上述抑制潜伏期一般在5毫秒以上,抑制时程较长.抑制程度与上丘刺激电流强度呈相关关系(r=0.99).实验中还发现,刺激上丘同样可抑制部分下丘神经元的自发放电活动,其抑制后效应相当长,有的可达120毫秒以上.     

Lateralization of saccadic latency during monocular presentation of stimuli to a leading and non-leading eye

Saccadic latencies were studied in ten healthy subjects. Peripheral targets were presented monocularly to a leading and nonleading eyes in the right and left hemifields. SS (single step) and OVERLAP (200 ms) schemes of visual stimulation were used. Under OVERLAP conditions, the saccadic latency was longer by 30-39 ms and the number of long-latency saccades was higher than under SS conditions, especially in subjects with mixed asymmetry profiles. In the majority of subjects with right asymmetry profile, the latencies of saccades during stimulation of the leading eye were by 12 ms shorter than during stimulation of the nonleading eye, and the latencies of right saccades were by 24 ms shorter than that of the left saccades independently of the stimulated eye. The obtained results explain some characteristic features of hemyspheric asymmetry in organization of saccadic movements.     

电刺激蝙蝠小脑对中脑上丘神经元听反应的影响

实验在２３只成年中华鼠耳蝠（Ｍｙｏｌｉｓｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）上进行。使用常规电生理学方法,观察了电刺激小脑对上丘神经元听反应的影响。在所观察的１７１个上丘神经元中,有１１６个（占６７．８４％）神经元听反应受到影响,其中７２个（占４２．１１％）表现为抑制效应,４４个（占２５．７３％）为易化效应。刺激小脑对上丘神经听反应的影响是双侧的。抑制或易化程度与电刺激强度、声刺激强度以及声、电刺激间隔有关。结果提示,小脑可以对上丘神经元听反应进行调制,这种调制作用可能是小脑调控回声定位过程中听觉－运动的中枢机制之一。     

Response of the spinal trigeminal nucleus neurons to electric stimulation of the rat dura mater

Aseptic inflammation of tissues surrounding large meningeal blood vessels, e.g. the superior sagittal sinus, underlies pathogenesis of migraine. This inflammation develops due to antidromic activation of sensory trigeminal nerve endings and is followed by changes in responses of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve neurons to electrical stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus. However, characteristics of these reactions are still unclear. In experiments ou urethane-anesthetized rats, responses of 387 neurons of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve to electrical stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus, were recorded. It was tial discharge with the latency 7 to 19 ms (11.4 +/- 0.17 ms) and a subsequent long-lasting discharge with the latency 20 to 50 ms (34.2 +/- 0.8 ms). It is presumed that the first phase reflects orthodromic activation of prevascular A delta and C-fibers of the trigeminal nerve while the second phase is connected with activation of meningeal C-fibers which have low conduction velocity, and/or with a secondary activation of perivascular sensory endings of trigeminal nerve by releasing algogenic and vasoactive substances. These changes could be used as an indicator of efficacy of some antimigraine substances in animal experiments.     

Analysis of the middle latency evoked potentials to angular acceleration impulses in man

The middle latency vestibular evoked potential (ML-VsEP) recorded with scalp electrodes in man in response to impulses of angular acceleration is dominated by a forehead positive peak at about 15 ms and a negative peak at about 20 ms; the peak amplitude of this component is about 30 μV. This is followed by slower, smaller amplitude activity. The latency of this initial peak is similar to the latency of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in monkeys. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the possible relation between the ML-VsEPs and VOR. This included recordings from forehead-mastoid electrodes (sites used to record VsEP) and other scalp electrodes and the recording of potentials due to eye movement: the electro-oculogram. Direct recording of eye movements was also conducted using an infra-red reflection device in those experiments in which the head was not moved. The recordings were conducted in man during vestibular stimulation eliciting VsEPs, during voluntary eye movements and during caloric and optokinetic stimulation. These experiments indicated that the 15–20 ms component of the ML-VsEP was not due to movements of the eye (corneoretinal dipole). The large amplitude 15–20 ms component of the ML-VsEP was similar in general magnitude, waveform, polarity, duration and rise time to the highly synchronous pre-saccadic spike (neural and/or myogenic) which precedes nystagnys and voluntary saccades. It therefore probably represents vestibular-initiated electrical activity in motor units of the extra-ocular muscles which then produce anti-compensatory saccades.     

Excitatory and inhibitory responses of the ongoing sympathetic discharge in single renal neurons to liminal stimulation of aortic C-fibres in the rabbit

Excitatory and inhibitory responses of sympathetic discharge were recorded in single renal postganglionic neurons of rabbits anaesthetized with urethane and chloralose. The animals were vagotomized and had transected aortic nerves. Responses were elicited by single volleys in the aortic C-fibres. Excitatory responses consisted in short-lasting increase in the rate of ongoing sympathetic discharge and were followed by inhibitory responses. Excitatory effects together with inhibitory responses were seen in 68% of units (19/28). Only excitatory effects appeared in 2 neurons (7.1%) and only inhibitory effects in 7 neurons (25%). In renal neurons exhibiting both effects, the excitatory responses appeared after latency of 172 +/- 8 ms (x +/- S.D.) and had duration of 64 +/- 11 ms. Inhibitory effects had latency o f 257 +/- 10 ms and their duration amounted to 265 +/- 22 ms. In more than half of recordings the excitatory responses were separated from the inhibitory effects by discharge lasting 33 +/- 4 ms. Significant correlations between latencies of excitatory and inhibitory responses and between duration of excitatory and latency of inhibitory responses suggest interaction between both effects. Increase in the number of afferent volleys (1 through 5) evoked relatively small changes in duration of the excitatory effect indicating that temporal facilitation is of minor importance in generating this response. Temporal facilitation was found to play an important role in determining duration of the inhibitory response. Comparison of effects of unilateral and bilateral stimulation of the aortic C-fibres showed larger occlusion of durations of the excitatory than inhibitory responses.     

The oscillatory system responsible for the oculomotor activity during the bursts of REM.

1. In precollicular decerebrate cats the electrical activity of single pontine neurons was recorded before, during and after the episodes of postural atonia produced by i.v. injection of 0.03-0.1 mg/kg of eserine sulphate. These episodes were characterized by the regular occurrence of horizontal conjugate eye movements, which were mainly grouped in bursts of REM; moreover, a burst of REM in one direction was generally followed by a burst of REM in the opposite direction. 2. Among the recorded units, 32 showed an increase in their discharge rate during these cataplectic episodes. However, while these units fired at regular frequency when postural rigidity was present, they showed periodic changes in their discharge rate as soon as the bursts of REM appeared in the electrooculogram. In particular a nearly sinusoidal increase in the discharge rate was related to the appearance of an ocular burst in one direction, while a decrease in the unit discharge occurred during an ocular burst in the opposite direction. In some instances neighbouring pontine units located within each side of the brain stem showed reciprocal rate profiles during REM bursts oriented in a given direction, making it likely that the cyclic alternation of their activity depended upon their reciprocal interaction. 3. The alternative hypothesis, i.e., that these periodic changes in unit discharge depend upon the proprioceptive feedback due to the eye movements was excluded by the fact that these changes started before the occurrence of the bursts of REM and began to decline before the end of the burst. Moreover no variation in their firing rate was observed during the positional nystagmus induced by tilting the animal in the control period, i.e., when postural rigidity had reappeared following the end of the cataplectic episode. 4. Most of the neurons showing periodic changes in their discharge frequency during the bursts of REM were located in the pontine reticular formation. Scattered units were also found within the region of the locus coeruleus and the raphe system, close to the surrounding reticular structures. 5. In addition to these neurons, 60 pontine units were recorded, which did not show any changes in their discharge rate during transition from the control period to the cataplectic episode. However, phsiic increases or phasic decreases in their discharge rate appeared synchronously with the individual eye movements. Since in most instances these phasic changes in unit activity coincided with the appearance of the individual monophasic potentials recorded from the ascending MLB, which immediately preceded the rapid eye movements, these units could be attributed either to the premotor neurons responsible for these REM or to the closely related structures which generate their rhythmic discharge. In only a few instances did the discharge of these units not precede but follow the individual eye movements, indicating that they resulted from a proprioceptive feedback originating during the eye movements. 6...     

Attenuation of phrenic motor discharge by phrenic nerve afferents

Short latency phrenic motor responses to phrenic nerve stimulation were studied in anesthetized, paralyzed cats. Electrical stimulation (0.2 ms, 0.01-10 mA, 2 Hz) of the right C5 phrenic rootlet during inspiration consistently elicited a transient reduction in the phrenic motor discharge. This attenuation occurred bilaterally with an onset latency of 8-12 ms and a duration of 8-30 ms. Section of the ipsilateral C4-C6 dorsal roots abolished the response to stimulation, thereby confirming the involvement of phrenic nerve afferent activity. Stimulation of the left C5 phrenic rootlet or the right thoracic phrenic nerve usually elicited similar inhibitory responses. The difference in onset latency of responses to cervical vs. thoracic phrenic nerve stimulation indicates activation of group III afferents with a peripheral conduction velocity of approximately 10 m/s. A much shorter latency response (5 ms) was evoked ipsilaterally by thoracic phrenic nerve stimulation. Section of either the C5 or C6 dorsal root altered the ipsilateral response so that it resembled the longer latency contralateral response. The low-stimulus threshold and short latency for the ipsilateral response to thoracic phrenic nerve stimulation suggest that it involves larger diameter fibers. Decerebration, decerebellation, and transection of the dorsal columns at C2 do not abolish the inhibitory phrenic-to-phrenic reflex.     

The influence of the auditory cortex on acoustically evoked cerebellar responses in the CF-FM bat,Rhinolophus pearsonic chinesis

1. Acoustically evoked responses of 284 neurons isolated from the cerebellar vermis, hemispheres and paraflocculus of Rhinolophus pearsonic chinesis were studied under free field acoustic stimulation conditions. 2. The BFs of these cerebellar auditory neurons ranged from 24 to 76 kHz but they mostly fall either between 48 and 64 kHz or between 65 and 76 kHz. However, the BF distribution varies among vermal, hemispheric and parafloccular neurons. 3. Threshold curves of cerebellar neurons are generally broad but those tuned to the frequency of the predominant CF component are extremely narrow. 4. Response latencies of cerebellar neurons ranged from 2 to 48 ms suggesting multiple auditory cerebellar pathways. The latency distribution also varies among vermal, hemispheric and parafloccular neurons. 5. Although both the vermis and hemispheres contain a disproportionate number of 65-74 kHz neurons, the response latencies of those neurons isolated from the vermis are scattered over a wide range of 2.2-28 ms while those neurons isolated from the hemispheres are generally stabilized between 5 and 12 ms. 6. Electrical stimulation of the auditory cortex evokes discharges from a recorded cerebellar auditory neuron. Cortical stimulation also facilitates the response of an acoustically evoked cerebellar neuron by increasing its number of impulses. The degree of facilitation is dependent upon the amplitude of the acoustic stimulus. 7. For a given electrical and acoustic stimulation condition, the facilitative latency and the degree of facilitation varied with the interstimulus interval. Among 23 neurons studied, most of them (19 neurons, 82.6%) had a maximal facilitative latency between 2 and 10 ms. 8. By examining the difference in the facilitative effect in each isolated cerebellar auditory neuron before and after a topical application of local anesthetic, procaine, onto the point of electrical stimulation in the auditory cortex, we found that the facilitative pathways to vermal and hemispheric neurons may be different from the pathway to parafloccular neurons. 9. Possible auditory pathways to different parts of the cerebellum are discussed in relation to the wide range of recorded response latencies. 10. The facilitative influence of the auditory cortex on the cerebellar auditory neurons is assumed to enhance the cerebellar role in acoustic motor orientation.     

Open-loop simulations of the primate saccadic system using burst cell discharge from the superior colliculus

 Saccade-related burst neurons (SRBNs) in the monkey superior colliculus (SC) have been hypothesized to provide the brainstem saccadic burst generator with the dynamic error signal and the movement initiating trigger signal. To test this claim, we performed two sets of open-loop simulations on a burst generator model with the local feedback disconnected using experimentally obtained SRBN activity as both the driving and trigger signal inputs to the model. First, using neural data obtained from cells located near the middle of the rostral to caudal extent of the SC, the internal parameters of the model were optimized by means of a stochastic hill-climbing algorithm to produce an intermediate-sized saccade. The parameter values obtained from the optimization were then fixed and additional simulations were done using the experimental data from rostral collicular neurons (small saccades) and from more caudal neurons (large saccades); the model generated realistic saccades, matching both position and velocity profiles of real saccades to the centers of the movement fields of all these cells. Second, the model was driven by SRBN activity affiliated with interrupted saccades, the resumed eye movements observed following electrical stimulation of the omnipause region. Once again, the model produced eye movements that closely resembled the interrupted saccades produced by such simulations, but minor readjustment of parameters reflecting the weight of the projection of the trigger signal was required. Our study demonstrates that a model of the burst generator produces reasonably realistic saccades when driven with actual samples of SRBN discharges. Received: 25 October 1994/Accepted in revised form: 20 June 1995     

Vibrissal inputs into the motor cortex of adult and developing rats

Field potentials (FP) and responses of single neurones to electrical stimulation of vibrissal pads have been recorded in motor cortex in the albino mature and developing rats. The FPs were characterized by 3-phasic shape and high stability in mature rats. The FPs evoked by contralateral stimuli have a range of onset latency of 4 to 24 ms (peak of distribution 8-11 ms); those to ipsilateral stimuli have a latency of 4 to 23 ms (peak of distribution 12-16 ms). Responses of single neurones were evoked with a latency of 9 to 20 ms. Usually, the FPs were evoked by both contralateral and ipsilateral stimulation, and in some tracks were effective only ipsilateral stimuli in the developing rats beginning from the 11th day of life. The FPs in such animals were less stable and more fatigable. During 2-4 weeks of life, FPs evoked by contralateral stimulation appeared with a latency of 15 to 46 ms; during the same period, a latency of single unit responses ranged between 20 to 33 ms. The FPs to ipsilateral stimuli appeared with a latency of 18 to 47 ms, a latency of single unit responses of 27 to 47 ms. The results indicate functional immaturity of vibrissal system up to the end of the first month of rat life.     

Activation of slowly conducting medullary raphe-spinal neurons, including serotonergic neurons, increases cutaneous sympathetic vasomotor discharge in rabbit

Neurons in the rostral medullary raphe/parapyramidal region regulate cutaneous sympathetic nerve discharge. Using focal electrical stimulation at different dorsoventral raphe/parapyramidal sites in anesthetized rabbits, we have now demonstrated that increases in ear pinna cutaneous sympathetic nerve discharge can be elicited only from sites within 1 mm of the ventral surface of the medulla. By comparing the latency to sympathetic discharge following stimulation at the ventral raphe site with the corresponding latency following stimulation of the spinal cord [third thoracic (T3) dorsolateral funiculus] we determined that the axonal conduction velocity of raphe-spinal neurons exciting ear pinna sympathetic vasomotor nerves is 0.8 +/- 0.1 m/s (n = 6, range 0.6-1.1 m/s). Applications of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)(2A) antagonist trans-4-((3Z)3-[(2-dimethylaminoethyl)oxyimino]-3-(2-fluorophenyl)propen-1-yl)-phenol, hemifumarate (SR-46349B, 80 microg/kg in 0.8 ml) to the cerebrospinal fluid above thoracic spinal cord (T1-T7), but not the lumbar spinal cord (L2-L4), reduced raphe-evoked increases in ear pinna sympathetic vasomotor discharge from 43 +/- 9 to 16 +/- 6% (P < 0.01, n = 8). Subsequent application of the excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonist kynurenic acid (25 micromol in 0.5 ml) substantially reduced the remaining evoked discharge (22 +/- 8 to 6 +/- 6%, P < 0.05, n = 5). Our conduction velocity data demonstrate that only slowly conducting raphe-spinal axons, in the unmyelinated range, contribute to sympathetic cutaneous vasomotor discharge evoked by electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe/parapyramidal region. Our pharmacological data provide evidence that raphe-spinal neurons using 5-HT as a neurotransmitter contribute to excitation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons regulating cutaneous vasomotor discharge. Raphe-spinal neurons using an EAA, perhaps glutamate, make a substantial contribution to the ear sympathetic nerve discharge evoked by raphe stimulation.     

Modulatory effects of the GABAergic basal ganglia neurons on the PPN and the muscle tone inhibitory system in cats

Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) contributes to the control muscle tone by modulating the activities of pontomedullary reticulospinal systems during wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The PPN receives GABAergic projection from the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), an output nucleus of the basal ganglia. Here we examined how GABAergic SNr-PPN projection controls the activity of the pontomedullary reticulospinal tract that constitutes muscle tone inhibitory system. Intracellular recording was made from 121 motoneurons in the lumbosacral segments in decerebrate cats (n=14). Short train pulses of stimuli (3 pulses with 5 ms intervals, 10-40 mA) applied to the PPN, where cholinergic neurons were densely distributed, evoked eye movements toward to the contralateral direction and bilaterally suppressed extensor muscle activities. The identical PPN stimulation induced IPSPs, which had a peak latency of 40-50 ms with a duration of 40-50 ms, in extensor and flexor motoneurons. The late-latency IPSPs were mediated by chloride ions. Microinjection of atropine sulfate (20 mM, 0.25 ml) into the pontine reticular formation (PRF) reduced the amplitude of the IPSPs. Although conditioning stimuli applied to the SNr (40-60 mA and 100 Hz) alone did not induce any postsynaptic effects on motoneurons, it reduced the amplitude of the PPN-induced IPSPs. Subsequent injection of bicuculline (5 mM, 0.25 ml) into the PPN blocked the SNr effects. Microinjections of NMDA (5 mM, 0.25 ml) and muscimol (5 mM, 0.25 ml) into the SNr reduced and increased the amplitude of the PPN-induced IPSPs, respectively. These results suggest that GABAergic basal ganglia output controls postural muscle tone by modulating the activity of cholinergic PPN neurons which activate the muscle tone inhibitory system. The SNr-PPN projection may contribute to not only control of muscle tone during movements in wakefulness but also modulation of muscular atonia of REM sleep. Dysfunction of the SNr-PPN projection may therefore be involved in sleep disturbances in basal ganglia disorders.     

Modulatory Inputs on Sympathetic Neurons in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla in the Rat

1. The first part of this study looks at spontaneously active neurons located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) with projections to the thoracic spinal cord. Sixteen neurons were intracellularly recorded in vivo. Four out of 16 neurons were antidromically activated from the thoracic spinal cord (axonal conduction velocities varied from 1.8 m/s to 9.5 m/s).2. The simultaneous averages of the neuronal membrane potential and arterial blood pressure triggered by the pulsatile arterial wave or the EKG-R wave demonstrated changes in membrane potential (hyperpolarization or depolarization) locked to the cardiac cycle in four neurons in this group. These neurons (three of them bulbospinal) were further tested for barosensitivity by characterizing the responses to electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve. Four neurons responded with inhibitory hyperpolarizing responses characterized as inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP) to aortic nerve stimulation (onset latency: 32.3 ± 5.0 ms; mean ± SEM).3. In two neurons in the RVLM, one of them characterized as barosensitive, electrical stimulation of the opposite RVLM (0.5 Hz, 1.0 ms pulse duration, 25–100 A) elicited excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) with latencies of 9.07 and 10.5 ms. At resting membrane potential, the onset latency of the evoked EPSPs did not change with increasing stimulus intensities. Some of the recorded neurons were intracellularly labelled with biocytin for visualization. They were found in the RVLM.4. These experiments in vivo would support the idea of a functional commissural pathway between the RVLM of both sides.5. Anatomical data have shown that some of those commissural bundle fibers originate in the C1 adrenergic neuronal group in the RVLM. In the second part of this study, we used an intracellular recording technique in vitro to investigate the effects of the indirect adrenergic agonist tyramine on neurons in the RVLM with electrophysiological properties similar to premotor sympathetic neurons in vivo.6. Tyramine (0.5–1 mM) produced a pronounced inhibitory effect with hyperpolarization and increase in membrane input resistance on two neurons characterized as regularly firing (R), and on one neuron characterized as irregularly firing (I). This effect was preceded by a transient depolarization with increases in firing rate.7. These results would indicate that neurons in the RVLM recorded in vitro and with properties similar to premotor sympathetic neurons can be modulated by catecholamines released from terminals probably making synaptic contacts.     

Blink Perturbation Effects on Saccades Evoked by Microstimulation of the Superior Colliculus

Current knowledge of saccade-blink interactions suggests that blinks have paradoxical effects on saccade generation. Blinks suppress saccade generation by attenuating the oculomotor drive command in structures like the superior colliculus (SC), but they also disinhibit the saccadic system by removing the potent inhibition of pontine omnipause neurons (OPNs). To better characterize these effects, we evoked the trigeminal blink reflex by delivering an air puff to one eye as saccades were evoked by sub-optimal stimulation of the SC. For every stimulation site, the peak and average velocities of stimulation with blink movements (SwBMs) were lower than stimulation-only saccades (SoMs), supporting the notion that the oculomotor drive is weakened in the presence of a blink. In contrast, the duration of the SwBMs was longer, consistent with the hypothesis that the blink-induced inhibition of the OPNs could prolong the window of time available for oculomotor commands to drive an eye movement. The amplitude of the SwBM could also be larger than the SoM amplitude obtained from the same site, particularly for cases in which blink-associated eye movements exhibited the slowest kinematics. The results are interpreted in terms of neural signatures of saccade-blink interactions.     

Selective discharge of pontine neurons during the postural atonia produced by an anticholinesterase in the decerebrate cat.

I. Episodes of postural atonia associated with bursts of REM similar to those which occur spontaneously either in the intact preparation during desynchronized sleep, or in the chronic decorticate or decerebrate preparations, can be elicited in acute decerebrate cats following intravenous injection of small doses of an anticholinesterase. The present experiments were performed in precollicular decerebrate animals in order to identify the pontine neurons which show increases in their firing rate related in time with the appearance of the cataplectic episodes. In particular long-term recordings of single units were obtained before, during and after the episodes of postural atonia produced by i.v. injection of 0.03-0.1 mg/kg of eserine sulphate. Spontaneous discharge rates were used to measure the selectivity of each individual unit, i.e., the tendency of the unit to discharge more during the cataplectic episode than during the postural rigidity. The physiological data obtained from neurons histologically localized in different nuclear groups were then averaged. 2. Neurons localized in the pontine reticular formation as well as in the region of the locus coeruleus and the raphe system showed low rates of discharge when rigidity was present. The same units, however, showed a remarkable increase in firing rate which preceded by several tenths of seconds the onset of postural atonia and lasted throughout the cataplectic episodes. 3. The neurons of the pontine reticular formation had a selectivity which was higher than that of the neurons located in the locus coeruleus-raphe system; moreover the cells of the gigantocellular tegmental field (FTG) had the highest selectivity of all pontine reticular structures studied. 4. The relation of the discharge rate curves to the occurrence of the cataplectic episodes suggests that these neurons constitute output elements of a generator system for postural atonia. It is postulated that these pontine reticular neurons are directly involved in the activation of the bulbospinal inhibitory system, which is finally responsible for the abolition of the decerebrate rigidity. 5. During cataplectic episodes these pontine neurons showed some clustered discharges which appeared in association with bursts of eye movements. In most instances, however, there was no constant relationship of the unit activity to individual eye movements. Moreover large phasic increases in firing rate appeared also during the intervals between successive bursts of REM. 6. The striking increase in firing rate of the FTG neurons observed during the cataplectic episodes cannot be attributed to an increased excitatory input to these neurons. In fact excitatory influences following intense somatic stimulation are unlikely to occur during the cataplectic episodes; moreover the response of these neurons to intense somatosensory stimulations did not reach rates comparable with those occurring spontaneously during the induced cataplectic episodes...     

The role of the medial preoptic area in the organization of paradoxical sleep

Influence of electrical stimulation of the medial preoptic area of cats on characteristics of paradoxical sleep and activity of medial preoptic neurons were studied in the course of sleep-waking cycle. Low-frequency stimulation of this structure in the state of slow-wave sleep evoked short-latency electrocortical desynchronization and induced transition to paradoxical sleep or paradocical sleep-like state. The same stimulation during the whole period of paradoxical sleep results in a reduction of its duration, practically complete disappearance of tonic stage, and increase in the density of rapid eye movements in phasic stage. The vast majority of meurons in the medial preoptic area decreased their firing rates during quiet waking and slow-wave sleep and dramatically increased their activity during paradoxical sleep. More than 50% of such neurons displayed activation 20-70 s prior to the appearance of electrocorticographic correlates of paradoxical sleep. Some neurons were selectively active during paradoxical sleep. Approximately 50% of cells increased their firing rates a few seconds prior to and/or during series of rapid eye movements. The results suggest that the medial preoptic area contains the units of the executive system (network) of paradoxical sleep and are involved in the mechanisms of neocortical desynchronization.     

Excitatory convergence of periaqueductal gray and somatic afferents in the solitary tract nucleus: role for neurokinin 1 receptors

Our previous studies (Boscan P, Kasparov S, and Paton JF. Eur J Neurosci 16: 907-920, 2002) showed that activation of somatic afferents attenuated the baroreceptor reflex via neurokinin type 1 (NK(1)) and GABA(A) receptors within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) can also depress baroreceptor reflex function and project to the NTS. In the present study, we have tested the possibility that the dorsolateral (dl)-PAG projects to the NTS neurons that also respond to somatic afferent input. In an in situ, arterially perfused, unanesthetized decerebrate rat preparation, somatic afferents (brachial plexus), cervical spinal cord, and dl-PAG were stimulated electrically, whereas NTS neurons were recorded extracellularly. From 45 NTS neurons excited by either brachial plexus or dl-PAG stimulation, 41 received convergence excitatory inputs from both afferents. Onset latency and evoked peak discharge frequency from brachial plexus afferents were 39.4 +/- 4.7 ms and 10.7 +/- 1.1 Hz, whereas this was 43.9 +/- 6.4 ms and 7.9 +/- 1 Hz, respectively, following dl-PAG stimulation. As revealed by using a paired pulse stimulation protocol, monosynaptic connections were found in 9 of 36 neurons tested from both spinal cord and dl-PAG. We tested NK(1)-receptor sensitivity in 38 neurons that received convergent inputs from brachial plexus/PAG. Fifteen neurons were sensitive to selective antagonism of NK(1) receptors. CP-99994, the NK(1) antagonist, failed to alter ongoing firing activity but reduced the evoked peak discharge frequency following stimulation of both brachial plexus (from 12.3 +/- 1.8 to 7.2 +/- 1.3 Hz; P < 0.01) and PAG (from 7.8 +/- 1.5 to 4.5 +/- 1 Hz; P < 0.01). We conclude that 1) somatic brachial and PAG afferents can converge onto single NTS neurons; 2) this convergence occurs via either direct or indirect pathways; and 3) NK(1) receptors are activated by some of these inputs.     

Auditory properties of the superior colliculus in the horseshoe bat,Rhinolophus rouxi

Summary Auditory response properties were studied in the superior colliculus (SC) of the echolocating horseshoe bat Rhinolophus rouxi, a long CF-FM bat, by the use of stationary, dichotic stimuli.The most striking finding in the horseshoe bat was an enormous overrepresentation of neurons with best frequencies in the range of the constant frequency component of the species specific echolocation call (72% of the auditory neurons). These neurons had response thresholds as low as 0 dB SPL and were narrowly tuned with Q_{10 dB} — values up to 400, just as in the nuclei of the primary auditory pathway in this species. This overrepresentation may suggest the importance of the superior colliculus in the context of echolocation behavior.While noise stimuli were not particularly effective, other auditory response properties were similar to those described in other mammals. 65% of the SC neurons in the horseshoe bat responded only to monaural stimulation of one ear, primarily the contralateral one. 32% of the neurons received monaural input from both ears. The proportion of neurons responsive to ipsilateral stimulation (41%) was rather high. Mean response latency was 8.9 ms for contralateral stimulation.A tonotopic organization is lacking, but high-frequency neurons are less frequent in rostral SC.Abbreviations CF constant frequency component of echolocation call; - >CF frequencies above range of CF-component - FM frequency modulated component of echolocation call - <FM frequencies below range of FM-component - RF resting frequency of an individual bat - Rh.r. Rhinolophus rouxi - SC superior colliculus