Summary
Effects of stimulation in the medullary reticular formation (RF) on C3-C4 propriospinal neurones (PNs) were investigated in two series of experiments: (1) indirectly by analyzing how propriospinal transmission to forelimb motoneurones is modified by reticular stimuli; (2) directly by intracellular recording from C3-C4 neurones, which were identified as propriospinal by their antidromic activation from the C6 segment.
Propriospinally mediated disynaptic EPSPs evoked in motoneurones from the pyramid (Pyr) and the red nucleus (NR) were effectively facilitated by conditioning stimulation in the RF with a time course of facilitation indicating monosynaptic linkage to the PNs. Propriospinally mediated trisynaptic IPSPs were facilitated less regularly and sometimes instead depressed by conditioning stimulation in the RF. The depression is at least partly due to inhibition of the first order PNs.
Recording from C3-C4 PNs revealed that many of them were excited or inhibited by single stimuli in the RF. The brief latency of the EPSPs evoked in these neurones shows monosynaptic linkage from fast reticulospinal fibres. Some IPSPs were similarly monosynaptically evoked from fast fibres and observations are presented suggesting that longer latency IPSPs are monosynaptically mediated by slower fibres. Facilitation of propriospinal transmission to motoneurones as well as the EPSPs and IPSPs in PNs were evoked from a region within or close to the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis.
Convergence of monosynaptic EPSPs from Pyr, NR, tectum, and RF was common in C3-C4 PNs. Linear summation of the EPSPs from RF with those evoked from cortico-, rubro-, or tectospinal tracts shows that the former are not due to stimulation of collaterals which the latter tracts may have in RF. Mediation of the EPSPs and IPSPs by descending, rather than by antidromically activated ascending fibres, was indicated by temporal facilitation produced by RF stimuli, subliminal for evoking monosynaptic PSPs in the PNs. Stimulation of the labyrinth did not evoke disynaptic PSPs in any of the PNs investigated.
It is concluded that the C3-C4 PNs projecting to forelimb motoneurones can be excited not only from the cortico-, rubro-, and tectospinal tracts (Illert et al. 1977, 1978) but also by reticulospinal fibres.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- LF:
-
lateral funiculus
- MLF:
-
medial longitudinal fasciculus
- NR:
-
nucleus ruber
- PNs:
-
propriospinal neurones
- Pyr:
-
pyramids
- T:
-
tectum
- RF:
-
reticular formation
- i:
-
ipsilateral
- co:
-
contralateral
- Bi:
-
biceps
- Br:
-
brachialis
- DR:
-
deep radial
- Tri:
-
triceps
References
Alstermark B, Lindström S, Lundberg A, Sybirska E (1981) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 8. Ascending projection to the lateral reticular nucleus from C3-C4 propriospinal neurones also projecting to forelimb motoneurones. Exp Brain Res 42: 282–298
Andersson S, Gernandt BE (1956) Ventral root discharge in response to vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation J Neurophysiol 19: 524–543
Bergmans J, Illert M, Jankowska E, Lundberg A (1976) Reticulospinal control of propriospinal neurones mediating disynaptic corticomotoneuronal excitation in the cat. Acta Physiol Scand 96: 5A
Brodal A (1957) The reticular formation of the brain stem. Anatomical aspects and functional correlations. The Henderson Trust Lecture. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, p 87
Engberg I, Lundberg A, Ryall RW (1968a) Reticulospinal inhibition of transmission in reflex pathway. J Physiol (Lond) 194: 201–223
Engberg I, Lundberg A, Ryall RW (1968b) Reticulospinal inhibition of interneurones. J Physiol (Lond) 194: 225–236
Grant G, Illert M, Tanaka R (1980) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 6. Anatomical evidence consistent with the existence of C3-C4 propriospinal neurones projecting to forelimb motor nuclei. Exp Brain Res 38: 87–93
Grillner S, Lund S (1968) The origin of a descending pathway with monosynaptic action on flexor motoneurones. Acta Physiol Scand 74: 274–284
Hultborn H (1972) Convergence on interneurones in the reciprocal Ia inhibitory pathway to motoneurones. Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl 375] 85: 1–42
Hultborn H (1976) Transmission in the pathway of reciprocal Ia inhibition to motoneurones and its control during the tonic stretch reflex. In: Homma S (ed) Understanding the stretch reflex. (Progress in brain research, vol 44, pp 235–255)
Hultborn H, Jankowska E, Lindström S (1971a) Recurrent inhibition from motor axon collaterals of transmission in the Ia inhibitory pathway to motoneurones J Physiol (Lond) 215: 591–612
Hultborn H, Jankowska E, Lindström S (1971b) Relative contribution from different nerves to recurrent depression of Ia IPSPs in motoneurones. J Physiol (Lond) 215: 637–664
Illert M, Lundberg A (1978) Collateral connections to the lateral reticular nucleus from cervical propriospinal neurones projecting to forelimb motoneurones in the cat. Neurosci Lett 7: 167–172
Illert M, Lundberg A, Padel Y, Tanaka R (1978) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 5. Properties of and monosynaptic excitatory convergence on C3-C4 propriospinal neurones. Exp Brain Res 33: 101–130
Illert M, Lundberg A, Tanaka R (1976) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 1. Pyramidal effects on motoneurones. Exp Brain Res 26: 509–519
Illert M, Lundberg A, Tanaka R (1977) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 3. Convergence on propriospinal neurones transmitting disynaptic excitation from the corticospinal tract and other descending tracts. Exp Brain Res 29: 323–346
Illert M, Tanaka R (1978) Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 4. Corticospinal inhibition of forelimb motoneurones mediated by short propriospinal neurones. Exp Brain Res 31: 131–141
Ito M, Hongo T, Okada Y (1969) Vestibular-evoked postsynaptic potentials in Deiters' neurones. Exp Brain Res 7: 214–230
Ito M, Udo M, Mano N (1970) Long inhibitory and excitatory pathways converging onto cat reticular and Deiters' neurons and their relevance to reticulofugal axons. J Neurophysiol 33: 210–226
Jankowska E, Lund S, Lundberg A, Pompeiano O (1968) Inhibitory effects evoked through ventral reticulospinal pathways. Arch Ital Biol 106: 124–140
Kawamura K, Brodal A, Hoddevik G (1974) The projection of the superior colliculus onto the reticular formation of the brain stem. An experimental anatomical study in the cat. Exp Brain Res 19: 1–19
Llinás R, Terzuolo CA (1964) Mechanisms of supraspinal actions upon spinal cord activities. Reticular inhibitory mechanisms on alpha-extensor motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 27: 579–591
Lundberg A (1970) The excitatory control of the Ia inhibitory pathway. In: Andersen P, Jansen JKS (eds) Excitatory synaptic mechanisms. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, pp 333–340
Lundberg A (1979) Integration in a propriospinal motor centre controlling the forelimb in the cat. In: Asanuma H, Wilson VJ (eds) Integration in the nervous system. Igaku-Shoin, Tokyo New York, pp 47–64
Magni F, Willis WD (1964) Cortical control of brain stem reticular neurons. Arch Ital Biol 102: 418–433
Magoun HW, Rhines R (1946) An inhibitory mechanism in the bulbar reticular formation. J Neurophysiol 9: 165–171
Peterson BW (1979) Reticulo-motor pathways. Their connections and possible roles in motor behavior. In: Asanuma H, Wilson VJ (eds) Integration in the nervous system. Igaku-Shoin, Tokyo New York, pp 185–200
Peterson BW, Anderson ME, Filion M (1974) Responses of pontomedullary reticular neurons to cortical, tectal and cutaneous stimuli. Exp Brain Res 21: 19–44
Peterson BW, Pitts NG, Fukushima K, Mackel R (1978) Reticulospinal excitation and inhibition of neck motoneurons. Exp Brain Res 32: 471–489
Pitts NG, Fukushima K, Peterson BW (1977) Reticulospinal action on cervical, thoracic and lumbar motoneurones. 7th Ann Meeting Soc Neurosci (Abstract) p 276
Rapoport S, Susswein A, Uchino Y, Wilson VJ (1977) Properties of vestibular neurones projecting to neck segments of the cat spinal cord. J Physiol (Lond) 268: 493–510
Rossi GF, Brodal A (1956) Corticofugal fibres to the brain stem reticular formation. An experimental study in the cat. J Anat (Lond) 90: 42–62
Tohyama M, Sakai K, Salvert D, Touret M, Jouvet M (1979) Spinal projections from the lower brain stem in the cat as demonstrated by the horseradish peroxidase technique. I. Origins of the reticulospinal tracts and their funicular trajectories. Brain Res 173: 383–403
Udo M, Mano N (1970) Discrimination of different spinal monosynaptic pathways converging onto reticular neurons. J Neurophysiol 33: 227–238
Verhaart WJC (1964) A stereotactic atlas of the brain stem of the cat. Van Gorcum, Assen
Wilson VJ, Gacek RR, Maeda M, Uchino Y (1977) Saccular and utricular input to cat neck motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 40: 63–73
Wilson VJ, Maeda M (1974) Connections between semicircular canals and neck motoneurons in the cat. J Neurophysiol 37: 346–357
Wilson VJ, Yoshida M (1969a) Comparison of effects of stimulation of Deiters' nucleus and medial longitudinal fasciculus on neck, forelimb and hindlimb motoneurones. J Neurophysiol 32: 743–758
Wilson VJ, Yoshida M (1969b) Monosynaptic inhibition of neck motoneurons by the medial vestibular nucleus. Exp Brain Res 9: 365–380
Wilson VJ, Yoshida M, Schor RH (1970) Supraspinal monosynaptic excitation and inhibition of thoracic back motoneurons. Exp Brain Res 11: 282–295
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project No. 94)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Illert, M., Jankowska, E., Lundberg, A. et al. Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. Exp Brain Res 42, 269–281 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237494
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237494