Summary
-
1.
Unit spikes of axons projecting to the abducens nucleus and responding to horizontal rotation of the head were recorded within the cat abducens nucleus. Their discharge pattern related to vestibular nystagmus was investigated with reference to PSP changes of abducens motoneurons as monitored by the field potentials in the nucleus. There were four groups of presynaptic axons whose activity was tightly related to motoneuronal PSPs.
-
2.
The first and second groups of axons were activated mono- and disynaptically from the contralateral labyrinth, respectively, and fired in phase with abducens nerve discharges. Their tonic activity during the slow excitatory phase of motoneurons was abruptly suppressed at the onset of positive field potential (motoneuronal hyperpolarization). The disynaptically activated axons exhibited burst-tonic discharges at the quick excitatory phase and steep increases in their discharge frequency were synchronous with the onset of negative field potential (motoneuronal depolarization).
-
3.
The third group was activated monosynaptically from the ipsilateral labyrinth and fired in phase with the silent period of the abducens nerve. Their tonic activity during the slow inhibitory phase of motoneurons was abruptly silenced at the onset of negative field potential. At the quick inhibitory phase they tended to begin firing slightly later than the onset of positive field potential.
-
4.
The fourth group exhibited high frequency burst discharges at the quick inhibitory phase of motoneurons. Steep increases in discharge frequency occurred synchronously with the onset of the positive field potential. These axons were silent during the slow inhibitory phase of motoneurons.
-
5.
The characteristic time course of PSPs in abducens motoneurons during vestibular nystagmus was well explained by synaptic actions of these four groups of presynaptic axon on motoneurons. The origin of each group of axon was discussed in view of their responses to electric stimulation of the vestibular nerve.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azzena, G.B., Gieretti, M.L., Deriu, P.L.: Convergence of labyrinthine and cerebral nystagmogenic impulses on brain stem units. Exp. Neurol. 19, 401–411 (1967)
Baker, R., Berthoz, A.: Organization of vestibular nystagmus in oblique oculomotor system. J. Neurophysiol. 37, 195–217 (1974)
Baker, R., Berthoz, A.: Is the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus the source of another vestibulo-ocular pathway? Brain Res. 86, 121–127 (1975)
Baker, R., Gresty, M., Berthoz, A.: Neuronal activity in the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus correlated with vertical and horizontal eye movement in the cat. Brain Res. 101, 366–371 (1975)
Baker, R., Highstein, S.M.: Physiological identification of interneurons and motoneurons in the abducens nucleus. Brain Res. 91, 292–298 (1975)
Baker, R.G., Mano, N., Shimazu, H.: Intracellular recording of antidromic responses from abducens motoneurons in the cat. Brain Res. 15, 573–576 (1969a)
Baker, R.G., Mano, N., Shimazu, H.: Postsynaptic potentials in abducens motoneurons induced by vestibular stimulation. Brain Res. 15, 577–580 (1969b)
Brodal, A.: Anatomy of the vestibuloreticular connections and possible ‘ascending’ vestibular pathways from the reticular formation. Progr. Brain Res. 37, 553–565 (1972)
Cohen, B., Henn, V.: The origin of quick phases of nystagmus in the horizontal plane. Bibl. ophthal. (Basel) 82, 36–55 (1972a)
Cohen, B., Henn, V.: Unit activity in the pontine reticular formation associated with eye movements. Brain Res. 46, 403–410 (1972b)
Davis-King, W.M., Lisberger, S.G., Fuchs, A.F., Evinger, L.C.: Activity of simian MLF fibers related to eye movement and adequate vestibular stimulation. Soc. Neurosci. 4, 185 (1974)
Duensing, F., Schaefer, K.P.: Die Neuronenaktivität in der Formatio reticularis des Rhombencephalons beim vestibulären Nystagmus. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 196, 265–290 (1957a)
Duensing, F., Schaefer, K.P.: Die „locker gekoppelten” Neurone der Formatio reticularis des Rhombencephalons beim vestibulären Nystagmus. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 196, 402–420 (1957b)
Duensing, F., Schaefer, K.P.: Die Aktivität einzelner Neurone im Bereich der Vestibulariskerne bei Horizontalbeschleunigungen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des vestibulären Nystagmus. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 198, 225–252 (1958)
Fuchs, A.F., Luschei, E.S.: Firing patterns of abducens neurons of alert monkeys in relation to horizontal eye movement. J. Neurophysiol. 33, 382–392 (1970)
Fuchs, A.F., Kimm, J.: Unit activity in vestibular nucleus of the alert monkey during horizontal angular acceleration and eye movement. J. Neurophysiol. 38, 1140–1161 (1975)
Hauglie-Hanssen, E.: Intrinsic neuronal organization of the vestibular nuclear complex in the cat. A Golgi study. Ergebn. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 40, 1–105 (1968)
Highstein, S.M.: Synaptic linkage in the vestibulo-ocular and cerebello-vestibular pathways to the VIth nucleus in the rabbit. Exp. Brain Res. 17, 301–314 (1973)
Hikosaka, O., Kawakami, T.: Inhibitory reticular neurons related to the quick phase of vestibular nystagmus — their location and projection. Exp. Brain Res. 27, 377–396 (1977)
Horcholle, G., Tyč-Dumont, S.: Activités unitaires des neurones vestibulaires et oculomoteurs an cours du nystagmus. Exp. Brain Res. 5, 16–31 (1968)
Keller, E.L.: Participation of medial pontine reticular formation in eye movement generation in monkey. J. Neurophysiol. 37, 316–332 (1974)
Keller, E.L., Daniels, P.D.: Oculomotor related interaction of vestibular and visual stimulation in vestibular nucleus cells in alert monkey. Exp. Neurol. 46, 187–198 (1975)
Keller, E.L., Kamath, B.Y.: Characteristics of head rotation and eye movement-related neurons in alert monkey vestibular nucleus. Brain Res. 100, 182–187 (1975)
Lorente de Nó, R.: Vestibulo-ocular reflex arc. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chic.) 30, 245–291 (1933)
Luschei, E.S., Fuchs, A.F.: Activity of brain stem neurons during eye movements of alert monkeys. J. Neurophysiol. 35, 445–461 (1972)
Maeda, M., Shimazu, H., Shinoda, Y.: Rhythmic activities of secondary vestibular efferent fibers recorded within the abducens nucleus during vestibular nystagmus. Brain Res. 34, 361–365 (1971)
Maeda, M., Shimazu, H., Shinoda, Y.: Nature of synaptic events in cat abducens motoneurons at slow and quick phase of vestibular nystagmus. J. Neurophysiol. 35, 279–296 (1972)
Matsunami, K.: Saccadic eye movement and neurons in the central gray area in awake monkeys. Brain Res. 38, 217–221 (1972)
Miles, F.A.: Single unit firing patterns in the vestibular nuclei related to voluntary eye movements and passive body rotation in conscious monkeys. Brain Res. 71, 215–224 (1974)
Peterson, B.W., Filion, M., Felpel, L.P., Abzug, C.: Responses of medial reticular neurons to stimulation of the vestibular nerve. Exp. Brain Res. 22, 335–350 (1975)
Pola, J.: MLF fiber activity in monkey during visually elicited and vestibular eye movement. Soc. Neurosci. 4, 377 (1974)
Precht, W., Shimazu, H.: Functional connections of tonic and kinetic vestibular neurons with primary vestibular afferents. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 1014–1028 (1965)
Robinson, D.A.: Oculomotor unit behavior in the monkey. J. Neurophysiol. 33, 393–404 (1970)
Robinson, D.A.: Models of oculomotor neural organization. In: The Control of Eye Movements. (eds. P. Bach-y-Rita, C.C. Collins and J.E. Hyde), p. 519–538. New York and London: Academic Press 1971
Schaefer, K.P.: Die Erregungsmuster einzelner Neurone des Abducenskernes beim Kaninchen. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 284, 31–52 (1965)
Scheibel, M.E., Scheibel, A.B.: Structural substrates for integrative patterns in the brain stem reticular core. In: Reticular Formation of the Brain, (eds. H.H. Jasper, L.D. Proctor, R.S. Knighton, W.C. Noshay and R.T. Costello), p. 31–55. Boston: Little Brown and Co. 1958
Schiller, P.H.: The discharge characteristics of single units in the oculomotor and abducens nuclei of the unanesthetized monkey. Exp. Brain Res. 10, 347–362 (1970)
Shimazu, H., Precht, W.: Inhibition of central vestibular neurons from the contralateral labyrinth and its mediating pathway. J. Neurophysiol. 29, 467–492 (1966)
Sparks, D.L., Travis, R.P.: Firing patterns of reticular formation neurons during horizontal eye movements. Brain Res. 33, 477–481 (1971)
Wilson, V.J., Wylie, R.M., Marco, L.A.: Synaptic inputs to cells in the medial vestibular nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 176–185 (1968)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hikosaka, O., Maeda, M., Nakao, S. et al. Presynaptic impulses in the abducens nucleus and their relation to postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons during vestibular nystagmus. Exp Brain Res 27, 355–376 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235510
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235510