Abstract
Neuronal activities in the red nucleus (RN) neurons during jaw movements were investigated in urethane anesthetized rats. Jaw movements were induced by mechanical stimulation applied to the hard palate and incisive papilla or by repetitive electrical stimulation of the primary jaw motor area. The RN neurons increased, decreased or no changed neuronal activities during mechanically induced jaw movements. The increase type neurons were located in the dorsolateral region of the RN. No neuronal activities that related to phase of jaw movements (jaw-opening and jaw-closing phase) and that were changed by passive jaw opening, and by pressure stimuli applied to the teeth, tongue, gingiva, superficial masseter and temporalis muscles were observed. The RN neurons showed increase, decrease or no changes in their firing patterns of activities to electrical stimulation of the primary jaw motor area. The increase type and decrease type neurons were mainly located in the dorsal and ventral region of the RN, respectively. These results suggest that the RN neurons are involved in control of jaw movements. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S178 (2004)]
