A special role of the parvocellular red nucleus in lesion-induced spontaneous tremor in monkeys.
The neural mechanisms underlying spontaneous tremor were investigated in monkeys. Tremor-producing ventromedial tegmental (VMT) lesions involve at least three major neural elements. (1) Parvocellular division of the red nucleus (RNpc); (2) cerebellothalamic fibers passing through the red nucleus, and, (3) nigrostriatal fibers. These three elements were destroyed stereotaxically in areas remote from the VMT area separately and/or in various combinations, and correlation between the site of lesions and tremor was made. Lesion-induced tremor appeared only when the three elements were destroyed. A possible, particular role of the RNpc in the production of the spontaneous tremor is discussed.
Ohye
C
C
Department of Neurosurgery, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
Shibazaki
T
T
Hirai
T
T
Wada
H
H
Kawashima
Y
Y
Hirato
M
M
Matsumura
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000503:physiopathology; D008251:Macaca; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000503:physiopathology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology*
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine