title: Descending pathways mediating disynaptic excitation of dorsal neck motoneurones in the cat: facilitatory interactions.
abstract: Facilitatory interactions between disynaptic EPSPs evoked from the contralateral tectum, ipsilateral tegmentum and contra- and/or ipsilateral pyramid have been investigated in dorsal neck motoneurones of the cat. Monosynaptic convergence on common intercalated neurones was found from ipsi- and contralateral pyramidal, contralateral tectal and ipsilateral tegmental fibres. In addition, disynaptic facilitation was observed from ipsilateral pyramidal fibres on disynaptic contralateral pyramidal EPSPs. Transection of cortico-fugal fibres in the pyramid showed that the location of the interactions occurred in the lower brain stem, suggesting that reticulospinal neurones are mediating the effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alstermark
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pinter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*