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Clinical signs of acute and chronic experimental lesions of the cerebellum

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Abstract

The literature contains many descriptions of clinical signs observed in animals following experimental injury of the cerebellum or its parts. These descriptions are a valuable source of information for clinicians dealing with animals afflicted with neurological disease. In this paper, this literature is reviewed, and then discussed in the light of its clinical significance. Outstanding in the latter regard are: the marked changes and improvement in clinical signs that occur with time following cerebellar injuries; the similarity of the posture immediately after certain cerebellar lesions to that seen in decerebrate rigidity or in Schiff-Sherrington rigidity; the deficiency of placing reactions after cerebellar lesions, a sign usually taken to indicate abnormality in the corticorubrospinal systems; the occurrence of so-called “paradoxical” vestibular syndromes following certain cerebellar lesions; and the occurrence of anisocoria and inequality of width of the palpebral fissures after certain cerebellar lesions, despite the lack of direct damage to parasympathetic or sympathetic pathways to ocular structures.

Kurzfassung

Die Literatur enthält zahlreiche Beschreibungen von klinischen Erscheinungen, die bei Tieren nach experimenteller Verletzung des Cerebellums oder von Teilen davon beobachtet werden. Diese Beschreibungen sind eine wertvolle Informationsquelle für Kliniker, die sich mit neurologischen Erkrankungen bei Tieren beschäftigen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird eine Literaturübersicht gegeben und ihre Bedeutung für den Kliniker diskutiert. Wichtig sind in diesem Zusammenhang: Schwere Veränderungen und Besserung klinischer Erscheinungen einige Zeit nach den cerebellären Verletzungen; die Ahnlichkeit der Körperhaltung sofort nach Eintreten bestimmter cerebellärer Schäden im Vergleich mit denen, die nach decerebrärer Starre oder bei der Schiff-Sherrington-Starre beobachtet wird; die Unfähigkeit von genauen Reaktionen nach cerebellären Reaktionen, eine Erscheinung, die gewöhnlich als Zeichen einer Abnormalität im corticocerebrospinalen System angesehen wird; das Vorkommen von sog. “paradoxen” Vestibulumsyndromen nach gewissen Cerebellumschäden; und das Auftreten von Anisocoria und Ungleichheit in der Weite der palpablen Fissuren nach gewissen Cerebellumläsionen, trotz Fehlens direkter Schäden bei den parasympathischen oder sympathischen Bahnen zu den Augenstrukturen.

Resume

La littérature comporte beaucoup d'informations sur ce sujet. Elles représentent des connées précieuses pour le clinicien confronté à la pathologie spontanée. Dans ce travail une revue bibliographique est présentée avec discussion sur la signification clinique des lésions. Les points cominants suivants sont particulièrement évoqués: modifications et améliorations des symptômes au cours du temps après lésions du cervelet; analogie immédiate de posture après certaines lésions du cervelet avec la régidité consêcutive à une décêrébration ou celle du type Schiff-Sherrington; anomalies de position après lésions cêrêbelleuses, indiquant normalement une perturbation du système corticorubrospinal; apparition d'un syndrome vertibulaire paradoxal après certaines lésions cérêbelleuses; et apparition d'un aniscorie et d'une inégalitê de l'ouverture palpébrale après lésions cérêbelleuses, malgrê l'absence de lésions du système nerveux autonome oculaire.

Riassunto

Nella letteratura si descrivono numerosi segni clinici osservabili in animali a seguito di lesioni sperimentali a carico del cervelletto o di parti dello stesso. Tali descrizioni rappresentano una valida fonte di informazione per i veterinari che si occupano di neurologia. Nel presente lavoro, si fornisce un'analisi di detta letteratura, che viene poi discussa alla luce dei significati clinici. Da questo punto di vista, risultano di particolare importanza: le notevoli alterazioni ed i miglioramenti della sintomatologia clinica che si verificano nel tempo dopo le lesioni cerebellari; la somiglianza delle posizioni che vengono assunte immediatamente dopo il verificarsi di deteriminate lesioni cerebellari con le posizioni osservate nella rigidità da decerebrazione o nella rigidità di Schiff-Sherrington; la deficienza delle reazioni di equilibrio nello spazio che conseguono alle lesioni cerebellari, sintomo normalmente considerato come indicativo di condizioni anormali nei sistemi corticorubrospinali; il verificarsi delle cosiddette sindromi vestibolari “paradossali” susseguenti a certe lesioni cerebellari, e infine il verificarsi di anisocoria e diversità nell'ampiezza delle rime palpebrali dopo determinate lesioni al cervelletto, malgrado la mancanza di un danno diretto a carico delle vie nervose che afferiscono alle strutture oculari.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology Service, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, 95616, Davis, California, (U.S.A.)

    T. A. Holliday D.V.M., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, (U.S.A.)

    T. A. Holliday D.V.M., Ph.D.

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Holliday, T.A. Clinical signs of acute and chronic experimental lesions of the cerebellum. Vet Res Commun 3, 259–278 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02268977

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