Summary
Microelectrodes were inserted into IIIrd cranial nucleus of anaesthetized rabbit. IIIrd nucleus was identified by observing the field potentials evoked antidromically by stimulation of IIIrd cranial nerve. After stimulation of VIIIth nerve extracellular field potentials, spike potentials in secondary vestibular fibers, and postsynaptic potentials in IIIrd nucleus neurones were recorded. VIIIth nerve impulses either excite or inhibit IIIrd nucleus neurones postsynaptically with disynaptic latencies around 1.7 msec. By local stimulation of the medulla, it was found that the secondary vestibular impulses inhibiting IIIrd nucleus neurones are mediated by the superior nucleus. The excitatory impulses are relayed by the rostral half of the medial nucleus as well as a certain structure(s) relevant to the brachium conjunctivum. Preliminary pharmacological investigations on the inhibition of IIIrd nucleus neurones are reported.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, R.G., Mano, N., Shimazu, H.: Postsynaptic potential in abducens motoneurons induced by vestibular stimulation. Brain Res. 15, 577–580 (1969).
Brodal, A., Pompeiano, O.: The vestibular nuclei in the cat. J. Anat. (Lond.) 91, 438–454 (1957).
Cajal, Ramón y, S.: Histologie du Système Nerveux de l' Homme et des Vertébrés. Tome I. Paris:Maloine 1909.
Carpenter, M.B., Strominger, N.L.: Cerebello-oculomotor fibers in the Rhesus Monkey. J. comp. Neurol. 123, 211–230 (1964).
Cohen, B., Suzuki, J., Bender, M.B.: Eye movements from semicircular canal nerve stimulation in the cat. Ann. Otol. (St. Louis) 73, 153–169 (1964).
Cook, W.A., jr., Cangiano, A., Pompeiano, O.: An electric investigation of the efferent pathways from the vestibular nuclei. Arch. ital. Biol. 107, 235–274 (1969).
Coombs, J.S., Eccles, J.C., P. Fatt, P.: The electrical properties of the motoneurone membrane. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 30, 291–325 (1955).
Eccles, J.C.: The Physiology of Synapses. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1964.
Gacek, R.: The course and central termination of first order neurons supplying vestibular end organs in the cat. Acta otolaryng. (Stookh.) Suppl. 254, 1–66 (1969).
Grundfest, H., Reuben, J. P., Rickles, W. H.: The electrophysiology and pharmacology of Lobster neuromuscular synapses. J. gen. Physiol. 42, 1301–1323 (1959).
Halász, N., Csillik, B.: Experimental electron microscopic studies on excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the cerebellar cortex of the rat. Exp. Brain Res. 9, 73–82 (1969).
Highstein, S.M., Ito, M.: Differential localization within the vestibular nuclear complex of the inhibitory and excitatory cells innervating IIIrd nucleus oculomotor neurones in rabbit. Brain Res. 29, 358–362 (1971).
Ito, M., Highstein, S.M., Tsuchiya, T.: The postsynaptic inhibition of rabbit oculomotor neurones by secondary vestibular impulses and its blockage by picrotoxin. Brain Res. 17, 520–523 (1970).
— Hongo, T., Okada, Y.: Vestibular-evoked postsynaptic potentials in Deiters neurones. Exp. Brain Res. 7, 214–230 (1969).
— Yoshida, M., Okada, Y., Obata, K.: Intracellularly recorded antidromic responses of Deiters neurones. Experientia (Basel) 20, 295–296 (1964).
— Yoshida, M.: The origin of cerebellar-induced inhibition of Deiters neurones. I. Monosynaptic initiation of the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Exp. Brain Res. 2, 330–349 (1966).
Kawai, N., Ito, M., Nozue, N.: Postsynaptic influences on the vestibular non-Deiters nuclei from primary vestibular nerve. Exp. Brain Res. 8, 190–200 (1969).
Kravitz, E.A.: Acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamic acid: Physiological and chemical studies related to their roles as neurotransmitter agents. The Neurosciences, pp. 433–444. Ed. by G.C. Quarton, T. Melnechuk and F.O. Schmitt. The Rockefeller Univ. Press 1967.
Lorente de Nó, R.: Ausgewählte Kapitel aus der vergleichenden Physiologie des Labyrinthes. Die Augenmuskelreflexe beim Kaninchen und ihre Grundlagen. Ergebn. Physiol. 32, 73–242 (1931).
— Vestibulo-ocular reflex arc. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chic.) 30, 245–291 (1933).
— Transmission of impulses through cranial motor nuclei, J. Neurophysiol. 2, 402–464 (1939).
Magnus, R.: Körperstellung. Berlin: Springer 1924.
Mano, N., Oshima, T., Shimazu, H.: Inhibitory commissural fibers interconnecting the bilateral vestibular nuclei. Brain Res. 8, 378–382 (1968).
McMaster, R.E., Weiss, A.H., Carpenter, M.B.: Vestibular projections to the nuclei of the extraocular muscles. Degeneration resulting from discrete partial lesion of the vestibular nuclei in the monkey. Amer. J. Anat. 118, 163–194 (1966).
Messen, H., Olszewsky, J.: A Cytoarchitectonic Atlas of the Rhombencephalon of the Rabbit. Basel-New York: S. Karger 1949.
Obata, K., Highstein, S.M.: Blocking by picrotoxin of both vestibular inhibition and GABA action on rabbit oculomotor neurones. Brain Res. 18, 538–541 (1970).
Precht, W., Shimazu, H.: Functional connections of tonic and kinetic vestibular neurones with primary vestibular afferents. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 1014–1028 (1965).
Richter, A., Precht, W.: Inhibition of abducens motoneurones by vestibular nerve stimulation. Brain Res. 11, 701–705 (1968).
Robbins, J., Van der Kloot, W. G.: The effect of picrotoxin on peripheral inhibition in the crayfish. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 143, 541–552 (1958).
Sasaki, K.: Electrophysiological studies on oculomotor neurons of the cat. Jap. J. Physiol. 13, 287–302 (1963).
Stein, B.M., Carpenter, M.B.: Central projections of portions of the vestibular ganglia innervating specific parts of the labyrinth in the Rhesus monkey. Amer. J. Anat. 120, 281–318 (1967).
Szentágothai, J.: Die zentrale Innervation der Augenbewegungen. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 116, 721–760 (1943).
— The elementary vestibulo-ocular reflex arc. J. Neurophysiol. 13, 395–407 (1950).
— Pathways and synaptic articulation patterns connecting vestibular receptors and oculomotor nuclei. In: The Oculomotor System, pp. 205–223. Ed. by M.B. Bender. Yew York: Hoeber 1964.
Tarlov, E.: Organization of vestibulo-oculomotor projections in the cat. Brain Res. 20, 159–179 (1970).
Thomas, R.C., Wilson, V.J.: Marking single neurons by staining with intracellular recording microelectrodes. Science 151, 1538–1539 (1966).
Van Rossum, J.: Corticonuclear and Corticovestibular Projections of the Cerebellum, Van gorcum & Comp. N.V., 1969.
Walberg, F., Bowsher, D., Brodal, A.: The termination of primary vestibular fibers in the vestibular nuclei in the cat. An experimental study with silver methods. J. comp. Neurol. 104, 77–173 (1958).
— Pompeiano, O., Brodal, A., Jansen, J.: The fastigiovestibular projection in the cat. An experimental study with silver impregnation methods. J. comp. Neurol. 118, 49–76 (1962).
Warwick, R.: A study of retrograde degeneration in the oculomotor nucleus of the rhesus monkey, with a note on a method of recording its distribution. Brain 73, 532–543 (1950).
— Oculomotor organization. In: The Oculomotor System, pp. 173–202. Ed. by M.B. Bender. New York: Hoeber 1964.
Williams, H.L., Bain, J.A.: Convulsive effect of hydrazides: Relationship to pyridoxine. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 3, 319–348 (1961).
Wilson, V.J., Kato, M., Peterson, B.W., Wylie, W.: A single-unit analysis of the organization of Deiters' nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 603–619 (1967).
— Wylie, R.M., Marco, L.A.: Synaptic inputs to cells in the medial vestibular nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 176–185 (1968).
— Yoshida, M.: Monosynaptic inhibition of neck motoneurons by the medial vestibular nucleus. Exp. Brain Res. 9, 365–380 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Highstein, S.M., Ito, M. & Tsuchiya, T. Synaptic linkage in the vestibulo-ocular reflex pathway of rabbit. Exp Brain Res 13, 306–326 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234952
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234952