Electrophysiological study of the nucleus of the optic tract that transfers optic signals to the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis - the visual mossy fiber pathway to the cerebellar flocculus.
Neuronal activities (n = 43) in the pretectal region in rabbits were recorded. They were orthodromically activated from the optic chiasm (latency, 1.86 +/- 0.35 msec) and antidromically from the ipsilateral nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (Nrt) (latency, 0.97 +/- 0.22 msec). Thirty-one (72%) neurons were in the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT), four (9%) in the anterior pretectal nucleus (PA) and seven (16%) in the border between NOT and PA. These findings demonstrate that the NOT is involved in the visual mossy fiber pathways to the flocculus and may contribute to optokinetic eye movements.
D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000502:physiology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*