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2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Role of cerebellar pathways in gaze holding

Research Project

Project/Area Number 13480273
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 神経・脳内生理学
Research InstitutionUniversity of Tsukuba

Principal Investigator

YOSHIDA Kaoru  University of Tsukuba, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Professor, 基礎医学系, 教授 (50111373)

Project Period (FY) 2001 – 2003
KeywordsEye Movements / Flocculus / Vestibular Nucleus / Interstitial Nucleus of Cajal / GABA / Neural Integrator
Research Abstract

For gaze maintenance, the velocity-encoded motor command must be integrated 'to produce an appropriate eye position command by a neural circuit called the oculomotor neural integrator. Cerebellar-brainstem interaction is necessary for this neural integration process. One possible substrate participating in this interaction is the cell groups of the paramedian tract (PMT). PMT neurons are known to project to the flocculus, but little is known about the firing behavior. In the present study, we searched the pontine PMT region for neurons discharging in relation to eye movements, In the MLF dorsal to the OPN area, there was a concentration of units that displayed burst-tonic firing pattern with upward on-direction (up-BT neurons). Their responses to electrical and natural vestibular stimulation indicated that they receive excitatory input from the contralateral anterior semicircular canal. They also received inputs from the interstitial nucleus of Cajal. Inactivation of up-BT cells by injection of muscimol, the GABA receptor agonist, consistently produced downbeat nystagmus. Unlike simple vestibular nystagmus, vertical gaze holding was impaired as indicated by an exponential time course of slow-phases (gaze-evoked nystagmus). Injection of bicuculline, the GABA receptor antagonist, caused upbeat nystagmus combined with gaze holding failure. These results thus suggests that the PMT-flocculus-vestibular nucleus pathway is important in maintaining both the..Stable gaze and vestibular balance

  • Research Products

    (13 results)

All Other

All Publications (13 results)

  • [Publications] Niwa, M. et al.: "Vertical eye movements-related type II neurons with downward on-directions in the vestibular nucleus in alert cats"Exp.Brain Res.. 155. 401-412 (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Kato, R. et al.: "Contribution of GABAergic inhibition to the responses of secondary vestibular neurons to head rotation in the rat."Neuroscience Research. 46. 499-508 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Inaba, N. et al.: "Changes in cerebellar fastigial burst activity related to saccadic gain adaptation in the monkey."Neuroscience Research. 46. 359-368 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Iwamoto, Y. et al.: "Saccadic dysmetria following inactivation of the primate fastigial oculomotor region."Neuroscience Letters. 325. 211-215 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Boyle, R. et al.: "Neural readaptation to earth's gravity following return from space."J.Neurophysiology. 86. 2118-2122 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Yoshida, K. et al.: "Disynaptic inhibition of omnipause neurons following electrical stimulation of the superior colliculus in alert cats."J.Neurophysiology. 85. 2639-2642 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Niwa, M., Chimoto, S., Iwamoto, Y., Yoshida, K.: "Vertical eye movements-related type II neurons with downward on-directions in the vestibular nucleus in alert cats"Exp.Brain Res.. 155. 401-412 (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Kato, R., Iwamoto, Y., Yoshida, K.: "Contribution of GABAergic inhibition to the responses of secondary vestibular neurons to head rotation in the rat"Neuroscience Res.. 46. 499-508 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Inaba, N., Iwamoto, Y., Yoshida, K.: "Changes in cerebellar fastigial burst activity related to saccadic gain adaptation in the monkey"Neuroscience Res.. 46. 359-368 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Iwamoto, Y., Yoshida, K.: "Saccadic dysmetria following inactivation of the primate fastigial oculomotor region"Neuroscience Lett.. 325. 211-215 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Boyle, R., Mensinger A.F., Yoshida, K., Usui, S., Intravaia, A., Tricas, T., Highstein S.M.: "Neural readaptation to earth ユ s gravity following return from space"J.Neurophysiol.. 86. 2118-2122 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yoshida, K., Iwamoto, Y., Chimoto, S., Shimazu, H.: "Disynaptic inhibition of omnipause neurons following electrical stimulation of the superior colliculus in alert cats"J.Neurophysiol.. 85. 2639-2642 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Nakamagoe, K., Iwamoto, Y., Yoshida, K.: "New evidence for brainstem structures participating in oculomotor integration"Science. 288. 857-859 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2005-04-19  

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