In order to clarify the functional significance of the sciatic evoked eyelid microvibration (SMV) and the electrical change of sciatic evoked palpebral reflex (SPR), it was studied neuropharmacologically in rabbits.
(1) As the results of th e sciatic nerve stimulation, the early 3 negative responses (N
1, N
2 and N
3),1 positive response (P) and late 4 negative responses (N
4, N
5, N
6 and N
7)were obsered in the cerebral cortex. The early componets were hardly suppressed by intravenous administration of morphine, while the late components were mildly suppressed.
(2) Sciatic nerve stimulation resulted in 3 small negative responses (HN
1, HN
2 and HN
3)followed by 3 large negative responses (HN4, HN5 and HN6) in the hippocampus. All hippocampal components were suppressed by intravenous injection of morphine.
(3) Painting of procaine directly on the sciatic nerve su p pressed not only N
1 and N
2components in the cerebral cortex, but also all components in the hippocampus.
(4) The lesions of the nucleus ventralis posteromedialis (VPM) and the nucleus ventralis posterolateralis (VPL) which are the sensory relay nuclei suppressed each component in the cerebral oortex. N
2, N
3, N
4, N
5, N
6 and N
7components were notably inhibited by the VPM lesion. The VPL lesion markedly inhibited P, N
4 and N
5.
(5) The lesions of the nucleus ventralis anterior (VA) and the nucleus centrum medianum (CM) which belong to the diffuse thalamo-cortical projection system suppressed, each component in the cerebral cortex. The CM lesion was especially effective in inhibiting the cerebral cortex responses to sciatic nerve stimulation.
(6) Each component o f the hippocampus was suppressed by the VPM and the VPL lesions. In particular, the VPL lesion markedly inhibited the HN
2 and HN
3 components.
(7) Each component in the hippocampus was also suppressed by th e VA and the CM lesions. The VA lesion produced greater inhibition of the hippocampal components than the CM lesion did.
(8) The SMV response induced in the upper eyelid by sciatic nerve stimulation was composed of 3 components (SMV
1, SMV
2 and SMV
3), which had peak latencies of 51 msec,71 msec, and 92. msec, respectively.
(9) Each component o f SMV was markedly, suppressed' by. intravenous administration of morphine or by painting of procaine.
(10) The lesion of VPM o r VPL suppressed each component of SMV. The inhibition produced by the VPM lesion was greater than the inhibition produced by the VPL lesion.
(11) The lesion of VA increased the amplitude of each component in SMV, while the lesion of CM decreased it.
(12) With the impair ments of the brain stem reticular formation (RF) or the oculomotor nuclei, all components of SMV disappeared:
(13) Each component of SM V was inhibited when the cerebral cortex was resected, and almost disappeared when tbe hippocampus was further resected.
(14). The SPR response induced in, the upper eyelid b y sciatic nerve stinulation was composed of 3 components (SPR
1, SPR
2 and. SPR
3), of which peak latencies were 52 msec, msec and: 113 msec, respectively.
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