Convergence of the anterior semicircular canal and otolith afferents on cat single vestibular neurons |
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Authors: | Zhang X Sasaki M Sato H Meng H Bai R S Imagawa M Uchino Y |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Physiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6–1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160–8402, Japan, |
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Abstract: | The convergence between the anterior semicircular canal (AC) and utricular (UT) inputs, as well as the convergence between
the AC and saccular (SAC) inputs in single vestibular neurons of decerebrated cats were investigated. Postsynaptic potentials
were recorded intracellularly after selective stimulation of each pair of vestibular nerves AC/UT or AC/SAC. Neurons were
recorded from the central parts of the vestibular nuclei, where the otolith afferents mainly terminate. Of a total of 105
neurons that were activated after stimulation of the AC and UT nerves, 42 received convergent inputs. Thirty-eight of these
neurons received excitatory inputs from both afferents. Convergent neurons were further classified into vestibulospinal (n=28) and vestibulooculospinal (n=6) neurons by antidromic activation from the border between the C1 and C2 spinal cord and the oculomotor or trochlear nucleus.
Eight neurons that were not antidromically activated from either site were classified as vestibular neurons. Forty three percent
of the convergent vestibulospinal neurons and most of the convergent vestibulooculospinal neurons projected to the spinal
cord through the medial vestibulospinal tract. The remaining vestibulospinal and vestibulooculospinal neurons descended through
the ipsilateral lateral vestibulospinal tract. Of a total of 118 neurons that were activated after stimulation of the AC and/or
SAC nerves, 51 received convergent inputs (27 vestibulospinal, 4 vestibulooculospinal, 5 vestibuloocular and 15 vestibular
neurons). Forty-two of the convergent neurons received excitatory inputs from both afferents. Thirty seven percent of the
convergent vestibulospinal neurons and all of the convergent vestibulooculospinal neurons projected to the spinal cord through
the medial vestibulospinal tract. The remaining vestibulospinal and vestibulooculospinal neurons descended through the ipsilateral
lateral vestibulospinal tract.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Anterior semicircular canal Utriculus Sacculus Vestibular nucleus Linear acceleration |
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