猫前庭神経核と, 眼球運動に関与する脳幹Pause neuronとの直接の連絡に関して

抄録

Brain stem pause neurons (PNs) have been reported to play important roles in the regulation of rapid eye movements. However, the input sources that drive PNs are uncertain. The present study indicates monosynaptic connections from vestibular Type I and Type II neurons in the medial and lateral vestibular nuclei to the PN region. This conclusion is based on (i) antidromic activation showing vestibular neurons projecting to the PN region ; (ii) systematic microstimulation tracks within the PN region showing a depth-threshold pattern of antidromic activation of vestibular neurons consistent with vestibular neurons having profuse axonal branches within the PN region ; and (iii) spontaneously firing single vestibular neurons evoking a spike-triggered field response in the PN region.