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Electrophysiological properties of lateral reticular nucleus cells: II. Synaptic activation

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Summary

Intracellular potentials of lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) cells of the cat were recorded following stimulation of the spinal cord (SP), red nucleus (RN), cerebral peduncle (CP), nucleus interpositus (IP) and nucleus fastigius (Fg).

Single shock stimulation of all of the above sites induced monosynaptic and polysynaptic EPSPs in the LRN cells. Disynaptic and polysynaptic IPSPs were also observed especially following Sp stimulation. Both Sp induced EPSPs and IPSPS could be reversed by intracellular current injection indicating that they are generated at or near the soma of the LRN cell.

Collision experiments between Sp and IP induced EPSPs, and IP-Fg induced EPSPs showed that independent excitatory pathways exist from the Sp and the deep cerebellar nuclei to the LRN. Collision experiments between RN and IP induced EPSPs and their respective time courses showed that disynaptically IP induced EPSPs in LRN cells are mediated through the red nucleus.

Findings indicate the existence of 1. a multiple convergence of spinal, suprasegmental and cerebellar synaptic inputs to the LRN and 2. direct (LRN-IP-LRN) or indirect (LRN-IP-RN-LRN) excitatory feed back loops between the cerebellar nuclei and this precerebellar nucleus.

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Author notes

  1. K. Hatada

    Present address: Lafayette Clinic, 48201, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Morin Memorial Laboratory, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    S. T. Kitai, J. F. DeFrance, K. Hatada & D. T. Kennedy

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  1. S. T. Kitai
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  2. J. F. DeFrance
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  3. K. Hatada
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  4. D. T. Kennedy
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Additional information

This study was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grants NB 00405, RR 5384 and National Science Foundation Grant GB 35532.

The authors express their graditude to Mrs. D. Agresta and Miss C. Casper for their patient and skillful assistance in histology, photography and preparation of this manuscript.

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Kitai, S.T., DeFrance, J.F., Hatada, K. et al. Electrophysiological properties of lateral reticular nucleus cells: II. Synaptic activation. Exp Brain Res 21, 419–432 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237904

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237904

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