Firing properties of preposito-collicular neurones related to horizontal eye movements in the alert cat

The projection from the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (PH) to the superior colliculus (SC) has been proposed to provide a feedback control of collicular saccadic activities. The present study aimed to identify the functional properties of PH neurones projecting to the SC relative to eye movement parameters. Preposito-collicular neurones were identified in alert cats by antidromic invasion and collision tests following electrical stimulations of the contralateral SC. Their discharges were then correlated with the horizontal component of eye movements. Particular attention was given to the timing of discharges relative to saccade onsets. Most prepositocollicular neurones (12/14) displayed transient activities associated to eye velocity, and onsets preceded the saccade onset by 9.4–19.9 ms. The mean eye velocity sensitivity of these early preposito-collicular neurones (1.46±0.53 spikes/s per degree per second) was quite similar to that calculated from a sample of putative motoneurones or interneurones that have been recorded within abducens nucleus and quantified in the same conditions. The remaining two preposito-collicular neurones exhibited transient activity related to saccades, but this followed the transient putative motoneuronal discharge. These delayed neurones also had lower eye velocity sensitivities (0.38 sp/s per degree per second and 0.58 sp/s per degree per second, respectively) compared with early neurones. Both classes of preposito-collicular neurones also displayed a subsequent tonic activity correlated with the eye position. Taken together, these results demonstrate that preposito-collicular neurones code both eye position and eye velocity just like ocular motoneurones, but in a predictive manner. The anticipatory discharge of early neurones makes them likely candidates for the control of peak activities of saccade-related collicular neurones, particularly in the caudal colliculus. Delayed preposito-collicular neurones may also participate in the control of collicular activities, but probably in more rostral SC, where peak activities occur later during eye movements together with smaller motor error coding.