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Mechanisms of corticofugal control of the activity of “vagal” viscerosensory neurons in theNucleus tractus solitarii

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Abstract

In experiemnts on cats under chloralose-nembutal anesthesia, we studied viscerosensory neurons in thenucl. tractus solitarii identified by their responses to stimulation of then. vagus. The responses of these cells to stimulation of the secondary sensorimotor cortex (zoneS2) and dorsal regions of field 25 of the limbic cortex (DLC) were recorded. A substantial part of the “vagal” viscerosensory units demonstrated convergent properties and responded toS2 and DLC stimulations by phasic responses. The short latencies of these responses were indicative of oligosynaptic and, in some cases, even monosynaptic transmission of corticofugal influences on a considerable part of such neurons. Using paired stimulation allowed us to demonstrate that the effects of stimulation of the visceral afferent fiber undergo long-lasting suppression exerted by descending corticofugal volleys. The mechanisms of cortical control of the activity of bulbar viscerosensory neurons are discussed.

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Baklavadjan, O.G., Avetisyan, É.A., Markosyan, R.M. et al. Mechanisms of corticofugal control of the activity of “vagal” viscerosensory neurons in theNucleus tractus solitarii . Neurophysiology 32, 23–28 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02515164

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