Tilt responses of neurons in the caudal descending nucleus of the decerebrate cat: influence of the caudal cerebellar vermis and of neck receptors

1996 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1242-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Wilson ◽  
H. Ikegami ◽  
R. H. Schor ◽  
D. B. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Head Rotation ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Cerebellar Vermis ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Vestibular Input ◽  
Decerebrate Cat ◽  
Neck Rotation ◽  
Vertical Semicircular Canal

1. In decerebrate cats with intact cerebellums, we studied the responses of neurons in the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei to natural vestibular stimulation in vertical planes and to neck rotation. The activity of most neurons was recorded in the caudal half of the descending nucleus. 2. One goal of our experiments was to compare the dynamic and spatial properties of responses to sinusoidal vestibular stimulation with those seen in previous experiments in which the caudal cerebellar vermis, including the nodulus and uvula, was removed. This part of the cerebellum receives vestibular input and projects to the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei, suggesting that it could influence responses to stimulation of the labyrinth. 3. As in our previous experiments, most neurons could be classified as receiving predominant input either from the otoliths or from one vertical semicircular canal. When mean gain and phase and response vector orientations were compared, there were no obvious differences between the behavior of neurons in the partially decerebellate preparation and the one with the cerebellum intact, demonstrating that in the decerebrate cat the nodulus and uvula have little or no influence on the processing of vertical vestibular input in this region of the vestibular nuclei. 4. Only 23 of 74 (31%) of neurons tested responded to neck rotation. This contrasts with the much larger fractions that respond to this stimulus in Deiters' nucleus and in the rostral descending nucleus. We also recorded from neurons near the vestibular nuclei, mainly in the external cuneate nucleus. All of them (9 of 9) responded to neck rotation. 5. Responses to neck rotation also differed in their dynamics from those found more rostrally in the vestibular nuclei. Dynamics of more rostral neurons resemble those of neck muscle spindles, as do those of external cuneate neurons. The dynamics of caudal vestibular neurons, on the other hand, have a steeper gain slope and more advanced phases than do those of neurons in the more rostral vestibular nuclei. This suggests the possibility of involvement of additional receptors in the production of these responses. 6. In the more rostral vestibular nuclei, responses to vestibular and neck rotation are most often antagonistic, so that head rotation results in little or no response. This is not the case in the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei, where less than half the neurons tested displayed antagonistic behavior. Further experiments are required to put the neck projection to the caudal vestibular nuclei in a functional context.

Responses of neurons of the cat central cervical nucleus to natural neck and vestibular stimulation

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 2786-2789 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Thomson ◽  
N. Isu ◽  
V. J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Body Tilt ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Vestibular Input ◽  
Preferred Direction ◽  
Central Cervical Nucleus ◽  
Neck Rotation ◽  
Vector Orientation ◽  
To Receive

1. The central cervical nucleus (CCN) is known to receive neck and vestibular input and to project to the contralateral cerebellum and vestibular nuclei. To investigate the processing of neck and vestibular input by cells in the CCN, we studied their responses to sinusoidal neck rotation and to whole-body tilt in vertical planes in decerebrate, paralyzed cats. CCN neurons were identified by antidromic stimulation with electrodes placed in or near the contralateral restiform body. 2. For every neuron, we first identified the preferred direction of neck rotation (response vector orientation), then studied the neuron's dynamics with rotations in a plane close to this direction at 0.05-1 Hz. 3. Responses of CCN neurons to neck rotation resembled those of previously studied neck spindle primary afferents in terms of their dynamics and nonlinear responses to stimuli of differing amplitudes. They also resembled the neck responses of Deiters' neurons studied in similar preparations. 4. The activity of two-thirds of CCN neurons also was modulated by natural vestibular stimulation. Orientation and dynamics of vestibular responses were characterized in the same way as neck responses. Labyrinthine input originated predominantly from the contralateral vertical canals, and there was no evidence of otolith input. Neck and vestibular inputs were always antagonistic, but the gain of the vestibular response was lower than that of the neck response at all frequencies studied. 5. The quantitative aspects of the interaction between neck and vestibular inputs can be expected to vary with the type of preparation and with stimulus parameters, and its functional significance remains to be investigated.

Neck muscle spindle activity in the decerebrate, unparalyzed cat: dynamics and influence of vestibular stimulation

1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 917-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kasper ◽  
V. J. Wilson ◽  
Y. Yamagata ◽  
B. J. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Spindle ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
High Gain ◽  
Neck Muscles ◽  
Body Tilt ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Response Dynamics ◽  
Decerebrate Cat

1. Using floating electrodes, we recorded from neck-muscle spindle afferents in the C2 dorsal root ganglion of the decerebrate cat. Nerves to dorsal neck muscles were cut so that the afferents presumably originated mainly from ventral and ventrolateral perivertebral muscles and sternocleidomastoid. One goal of our experiments was to study possible vestibular influence exerted on these spindles via the fusimotor system. Unparalyzed preparations were therefore used. 2. Stimuli consisted of sinusoidal rotations in vertical planes. Neck tilt stretched neck muscles, whereas whole-body tilt stimulated vestibular receptors. 3. For each afferent we first determined the most effective direction of neck tilt, then used stimuli oriented close to this direction to study response dynamics, particularly gain of responses to stimuli of different amplitudes (0.5-7.5 degrees). 4. Three-quarters of the afferents failed to respond to 0.5 degrees, 0.2-Hz neck rotations. Stimuli that were effective usually elicited responses that had low gain and were linear over the whole range of amplitudes. Only a few afferents had behavior typical of spindle primary afferents: high-gain responses to small sinusoidal stimuli, gain decreasing as stimulus amplitude increases. This prevalence of static spindle responses in the unparalyzed cat is in striking contrast to results obtained on neck-muscle spindles in paralyzed, decerebrate cats, and on hindlimb extensor muscle spindles in decerebrate, unparalyzed cats. 5. Paralysis produced by injection of Flaxedil changed the behavior of 2/4 spindle afferents tested, causing the appearance of high-gain responses to 0.5 degrees stimuli and of nonlinear behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vertical vestibular input to and projections from the caudal parts of the vestibular nuclei of the decerebrate cat

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 428-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Endo ◽  
D. B. Thomson ◽  
V. J. Wilson ◽  
T. Yamaguchi ◽  
B. J. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Otolith Organs ◽  
Vestibular Input ◽  
Decerebrate Cat ◽  
Central Processing ◽  
Advanced Phase ◽  
Vestibulospinal Neurons ◽  
Response Vector ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. To investigate the type of vestibular signals that neurons in the caudal parts of the vestibular nuclei transmit to the cerebellum and spinal cord, we studied their responses to natural vestibular stimulation in vertical planes in decerebrate cats with the caudal cerebellum removed. Most neurons were in the caudal half of the descending vestibular nucleus, the remainder at corresponding levels of the medial nucleus or the medial-descending border. 2. Dynamics of the responses of spontaneously firing neurons were studied with sinusoidal tilts delivered at 0.05-1 Hz near the plane of body rotation that produced maximal modulation of the neuron's activity (response vector orientation). For most neurons the predominant vestibular input could be identified as coming from otolith organs (46%) or vertical semicircular canals (37%). Some neurons had otolith+canal convergence (9%) and others either had such converging input or some other form of central processing (8%). 3. Gain and phase of the responses of otolith neurons were comparable with values obtained in earlier studies on Deiters' nucleus and the rostral descending nucleus. Many canal neurons had a steeper gain slope and more advanced phase than observed previously for more rostral neurons. This may be due to more irregular afferent input to many neurons or to the absence of the vestibulocerebellum. 4. Response vector orientations of canal neurons were closely bunched near the planes of the ipsilateral vertical canals. The small number of contralaterally projecting vectors showed evidence of convergence between the two contralateral vertical canals. As is the case elsewhere in the vestibular nuclei, there was no evidence of convergence from bilateral vertical canals. Response vector orientations of otolith neurons were restricted to the roll quadrants; the majority pointed ipsilaterally. 5. Antidromic stimulation with an electrode in the restiform body or with several electrodes in the dorsal half of the white matter of the upper cervical cord was used to identify neurons projecting to the cerebellum and spinal cord, respectively. A substantial number of spontaneously firing neurons projected to the cerebellum, but there were few spontaneously active vestibulospinal neurons. The properties of the vestibular input to cerebellar-projecting neurons were the same as those of the population as a whole, but the effect of tilt on vestibulospinal neurons appeared weak or absent. 6. Many neurons were inhibited by stimulation of the restiform body. We suggest that this is mainly due to stimulation of the axons of vestibulocerebellar Purkinje cells. 7. Our results demonstrate a robust vertical vestibular input to the caudal parts of the vestibular nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Properties of sympathetic reflexes elicited by natural vestibular stimulation: implications for cardiovascular control

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2087-2092 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Yates ◽  
A. D. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Head Rotation ◽  
Splanchnic Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Response Dynamics ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Sympathetic Reflexes ◽  
Vector Orientation ◽  
Vestibulosympathetic Reflexes

1. To study the properties of vestibulosympathetic reflexes we recorded outflow from the splanchnic nerve during natural vestibular stimulation in multiple vertical planes in decerebrate cats. Most of the animals were cerebellectomized, although some responses were recorded in cerebellum-intact preparations. Vestibular stimulation was produced by rotating the head in animals whose upper cervical dorsal roots were transected to remove inputs from neck receptors; a baroreceptor denervation and vagotomy were also performed to remove visceral inputs. 2. The plane of head rotation that produced maximal modulation of splanchnic nerve activity (response vector orientation) was measured at 0.2–0.5 Hz. The dynamics of the response were then studied with sinusoidal (0.05- to 1-Hz) stimuli aligned with this orientation. 3. Typically, maximal modulation of splanchnic nerve outflow was elicited by head rotations in a plane near pitch; nose-up rotations produced increased outflow and nose-down rotations reduced nerve discharges. The gains of the responses remained relatively constant across stimulus frequencies and the phases were consistently near stimulus position, like regularly firing otolith afferents. Similar response dynamics were recorded in cerebellectomized and cerebellum-intact animals. 4. The splanchnic nerve responses to head rotation could be abolished by microinjections of the excitotoxin kainic acid into the medial and inferior vestibular nuclei, which is concordant with the responses resulting from activation of vestibular receptors. 5. The properties fo vestibulosympathetic reflexes recorded from the splanchnic nerve support the hypothesis that the vestibular system participates in compensating for posturally related changes in blood pressure.

Tonic neck reflex of the decerebrate cat: response of spinal interneurons to natural stimulation of neck and vestibular receptors

1984 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Wilson ◽  
K. Ezure ◽  
S. J. Timerick
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Vestibular Input ◽  
Ipsilateral Side ◽  
Neck Rotation ◽  
Roll Tilt ◽  
Tonic Neck Reflex

In order to investigate the neural basis of the tonic neck reflex, we studied the response of neurons in the cervical spinal cord of decerebrate, paralyzed cats to neck rotation about the longitudinal axis (roll), to vestibular stimulation produced by roll tilt, and to a combination of these stimuli. Most neurons were outside the motoneuron nuclei and were arbitrarily classified as interneurons. Three types of preparation were used--one with intact labyrinths, one acutely labyrinthectomized, and one with acute spinal transection. The activity of 115 neurons recorded extracellularly was modulated by sinusoidal neck rotation in the range 0.02-4 Hz; their behavior was sufficiently linear for sinusoidal analysis. The phase and gain of the responses of neurons in all three preparations were similar except that the absolute gain in cats with intact labyrinths was higher than that of the others. The location of neurons in segments C4-C8 was mainly in laminae 7-8. Some neurons were excited by rotation of the chin to the ipsilateral side (type I) and others by contralateral chin rotation (type II). The dynamic behavior of type I and type II neurons was the same; phase was flat over most of the frequency range and close to the phase of peak neck rotation, while gain enhancement occurred at higher frequencies. This behavior was similar to that of the neckforelimb reflex evoked in unparalyzed intact-labyrinth and labyrinthectomized cats. In cats with intact labyrinths, vestibular input to neurons whose activity was modulated by the neck stimulus was studied using whole-body roll tilt. Many neurons received otolith input; some received canal input. Neck and vestibular inputs to spinal neurons always had opposite polarities (complementary inputs). Thus, type I neurons were always excited by tilt to the ipsilateral side (ipsilateral ear down) while type II neurons were excited by tilt to the contralateral side. Combined neck and vestibular stimulation indicated that the dynamic behavior of neurons was determined by a linear summation of the responses to these stimuli. Interaction of neck and vestibular input at the neuron level was similar to that observed previously at the reflex level in forelimb extensor muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Changes in outflow to respiratory pump muscles produced by natural vestibular stimulation

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 3274-3284 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Rossiter ◽  
N. L. Hayden ◽  
S. D. Stocker ◽  
B. J. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Phrenic Nerve ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Head Rotation ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerves ◽  
Stimulus Position ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Static Head ◽  
Head Rotations

1. Activity was recorded from abdominal (expiratory) and phrenic (inspiratory) nerves during natural vestibular stimulation in multiple vertical planes and the horizontal plane in decerebrate cats. Vestibular stimulation was produced by rotating the head in animals whose upper cervical dorsal roots were transected to remove inputs from neck receptors; the upper airway and carotid sinus were denervated, and the vagus nerves were transected to assure that the head rotations did not elicit visceral or pulmonary inputs. 2. The plane of head rotation that produced maximal modulation of respiratory nerve activity (response vector orientation) was measured at one or more frequencies between 0.05 and 0.5 Hz. The dynamics of the response were then studied with sinusoidal (0.05–2 Hz) stimuli aligned with this orientation. In some animals, sinusoidal horizontal rotations of the head at 0.5 and 1 Hz or static head tilts in the pitch and roll planes were also delivered. 3. Typically, maximal modulation of abdominal nerve outflow was elicited by head rotations in a plane near pitch; nose-up rotations produced increased outflow, and nose-down rotations reduced nerve discharges. The gains of the responses (relative to stimulus position) remained relatively constant across stimulus frequencies, and the phases were consistently near stimulus position, like regularly firing otolith afferents. Static nose-up tilt produced elevated abdominal nerve activity throughout the stimulus period, providing further evidence that pitch-sensitive otolith receptors contribute to the response. Horizontal head rotations had little influence on abdominal nerve discharges. 4. The abdominal nerve responses to head rotation were abolished by chemical or aspiration lesions of the medial and inferior vestibular nuclei, which is concordant with the responses resulting from activation of vestibular receptors. Transections of axons arising from bulbospinal neurons in the ventral respiratory group, which are known to be the predominant source of expiratory signals to the spinal cord, reduced but did not abolish the vestibuloabdominal reflex. Thus it is likely that nonrespiratory neurons also participate in generating this response. 5. Nose-up pitch of the head; and in particular large (50 degrees) static tilts, produced small increases in phrenic nerve activity. Ear-down tilt and horizontal rotation of the head produced no responses in the phrenic nerve. 6. The existence of vestibular inputs to some respiratory motoneurons suggests that the vestibular system has influences on muscles in addition to those typically considered to have antigravity roles, and participates globally in adjusting muscle activity during movement and changes in posturex.

Response of vestibular neurons to head rotations in vertical planes. I. Response to vestibular stimulation

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1753-1764 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kasper ◽  
R. H. Schor ◽  
V. J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular Nucleus ◽  
Semicircular Canals ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Excitatory Input ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Otolith Organs ◽  
Vertical Semicircular Canal ◽  
Vector Orientation ◽  
Response Vector

1. We have studied, in decerebrate cats, the responses of neurons in the lateral and descending vestibular nuclei to whole-body rotations in vertical planes that activated vertical semicircular canal and utricular receptors. Some neurons were identified as vestibulospinal by antidromic stimulation with floating electrodes placed in C4. 2. The direction of tilt that caused maximal excitation (response vector orientation) of each neuron was determined. Neuron dynamics were then studied with sinusoidal stimuli closely aligned with the response vector orientation, in the range 0.02-1 Hz. A few cells, for which we could not identify a response vector, probably had spatial-temporal convergence. 3. On the basis of dynamics, neurons were classified as receiving their input primarily from vertical semicircular canals, primarily from the otolith organs, or from canal+otolith convergence. 4. Response vector orientations of canal-driven neurons were often near +45 degrees or -45 degrees with respect to the transverse (roll) plane, suggesting these neurons received excitatory input from the ipsilateral anterior or posterior canal, respectively. Some neurons had canal-related dynamics but vector orientations near roll, presumably because they received convergent input from the ipsilateral anterior and posterior canals. Few neurons had their vectors near pitch. 5. In the lateral vestibular nucleus, neurons with otolith organ input (pure otolith or otolith+canal) tended to have vector orientations closer to roll than to pitch. In the descending nucleus the responses were evenly divided between the roll and pitch quadrants. 6. We conclude that most of our neurons have dynamics and response vector orientations that make them good candidates to participate in vestibulospinal reflexes acting on the limbs, but not those acting on the neck.

scholarly journals Vestibular nucleus neurons respond to hindlimb movement in the conscious cat

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1785-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. McCall ◽  
Derek M. Miller ◽  
William M. DeMayo ◽  
George H. Bourdages ◽  
Bill J. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Vestibular Nucleus ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Decerebrate Cat ◽  
Hindlimb Movement ◽  
Flexion And Extension

The limbs constitute the sole interface with the ground during most waking activities in mammalian species; it is therefore expected that somatosensory inputs from the limbs provide important information to the central nervous system for balance control. In the decerebrate cat model, the activity of a subset of neurons in the vestibular nuclei (VN) has been previously shown to be modulated by hindlimb movement. However, decerebration can profoundly alter the effects of sensory inputs on the activity of brain stem neurons, resulting in epiphenomenal responses. Thus, before this study, it was unclear whether and how somatosensory inputs from the limb affected the activity of VN neurons in conscious animals. We recorded brain stem neuronal activity in the conscious cat and characterized the responses of VN neurons to flexion and extension hindlimb movements and to whole body vertical tilts (vestibular stimulation). Among 96 VN neurons whose activity was modulated by vestibular stimulation, the firing rate of 65 neurons (67.7%) was also affected by passive hindlimb movement. VN neurons in conscious cats most commonly encoded hindlimb movement irrespective of the direction of movement ( n = 33, 50.8%), in that they responded to all flexion and extension movements of the limb. Other VN neurons overtly encoded information about the direction of hindlimb movement ( n = 27, 41.5%), and the remainder had more complex responses. These data confirm that hindlimb somatosensory and vestibular inputs converge onto VN neurons of the conscious cat, suggesting that VN neurons integrate somatosensory inputs from the limbs in computations that affect motor outflow to maintain balance.

scholarly journals Effects of caloric vestibular stimulation on serotoninergic system in the media vestibular nuclei of guinea pigs

2007 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu-rong MA ◽  
Jun-xiu LIU ◽  
Xue-pei LI ◽  
Jian-jun MAO ◽  
Qun-dan ZHANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Serotoninergic System ◽  
Caloric Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
The Media

Probing the human vestibular system with galvanic stimulation

2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 2301-2316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Brian L. Day
Keyword(s):  
Balance Control ◽  
Semicircular Canals ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Otolith Organs ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Electrophysiological Studies ◽  
Human Balance ◽  
Cortical Inputs ◽  
Vestibular Organs

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a simple, safe, and specific way to elicit vestibular reflexes. Yet, despite a long history, it has only recently found popularity as a research tool and is rarely used clinically. The obstacle to advancing and exploiting GVS is that we cannot interpret the evoked responses with certainty because we do not understand how the stimulus acts as an input to the system. This paper examines the electrophysiology and anatomy of the vestibular organs and the effects of GVS on human balance control and develops a model that explains the observed balance responses. These responses are large and highly organized over all body segments and adapt to postural and balance requirements. To achieve this, neurons in the vestibular nuclei receive convergent signals from all vestibular receptors and somatosensory and cortical inputs. GVS sway responses are affected by other sources of information about balance but can appear as the sum of otolithic and semicircular canal responses. Electrophysiological studies showing similar activation of primary afferents from the otolith organs and canals and their convergence in the vestibular nuclei support this. On the basis of the morphology of the cristae and the alignment of the semicircular canals in the skull, rotational vectors calculated for every mode of GVS agree with the observed sway. However, vector summation of signals from all utricular afferents does not explain the observed sway. Thus we propose the hypothesis that the otolithic component of the balance response originates from only the pars medialis of the utricular macula.

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