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Hypoglossal nuclei participation in rat mystacial pad control

  • Peripheral Nervous System
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Abstract

Recently, we showed that extra-trigeminal axons, originating from the hypoglossal nucleus, travel with the infraorbital division of the trigeminal nerve (ION), which is known to innervate the rat mystacial pad. Dil was monolaterally injected into the rat XII nucleus to analyse the peripheral distribution of hypoglossal axons to the mystacial pad, to evaluate their involvement in facial sensory–motor control. Electromyographic responses of mystacial pad motor units to electrical stimulation of the ION were recorded, along with the evoked responses to electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral XII nucleus. The results showed that hypoglossal axon terminals target the ipsilateral extrinsic musculature of the mystacial pad, but they do not have any contact with the intrinsic muscles. ION electrical stimulation increased electromyographic activity in the ipsilateral pad extrinsic muscles, even following VII nerve transection. Hypoglossal nucleus electrical stimulation induced field potentials and monosynaptic responses in the same motor units that persisted even following VII nerve transection, these disappearing after cooling the ION. We suggest that the small hypoglossal neurons projecting to the extrinsic musculature of the mystacial pad are part of a hypoglossal–trigeminal loop that participates in the sensory–motor control of the rat vibrissae system.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Messrs. G. Sanna, F. Tavera, A. Monti, G. Mulliri, and D. Zanetti of Sassari University, as well as Mr. S. Bentivegna and Dr. D. Lo Furno of Catania University for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences: Human Physiology Division, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/B, 07100, Sassari, Italy

    O. Mameli & M. A. Caria

  2. Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy

    S. Stanzani, A. Russo & M. Spatuzza

  3. Department of Anatomy, Diagnostic Pathology, Phorens Med., Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy

    R. Romeo

  4. Institute of Neurological Sciences, Natural Resources Council, Section of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy

    R. Pellitteri

  5. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100, Sassari, Italy

    P. L. De Riu

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  1. O. Mameli
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Mameli, O., Stanzani, S., Russo, A. et al. Hypoglossal nuclei participation in rat mystacial pad control. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 456, 1189–1198 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-008-0472-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-008-0472-y

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