title: Respiration-related neurons recorded in the deep cerebellar nuclei of the alert cat.
abstract: The activity of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons was recorded in the alert cat and related to the respiratory cycle. Respiration-related neurons (RRNs, n = 29), located in the rostral fastigial and interpositus nuclei, were classified as inspiratory (24%) or expiratory (76%). Nine RRNs were antidromically activated from the red nucleus, but none from the inferior olive. Half of the RRNs showed well defined proprioceptive inputs of a rather broad origin. Other RRNs (27%) showed a respiration-related pattern independent of respiratory movement performance. Repeated electrical stimulation of the inferior olive exerted a synchronizing effect on the firing rate of 24% of the RRNs. It is proposed that cerebellar nuclear RRNs are involved in locomotor re-adjustments of the respiratory musculature.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Facultad de Biología, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruart
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Delgado-García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness