[Discharge patterns of non-motoneurons in the facial nucleus of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the discharge patterns of non-motoneurons in the facial nucleus of rats.


METHODS
After retrograde degeneration of the facial motoneurons induced by section of the facial nerve, the discharge of non-motoneurons in the facial nucleus was extracellularly monitored, and their phase relations to the respiratory cycle were investigated.


RESULTS
In 18 rats, totally 142 non-motoneurons with spontaneous discharge were recorded in the facial nucleus. Among them, 127 (89.4%) were non-respiratory related neurons (NRRNs) and 15 (10.6%), respiratory related neurons (RRNs).


CONCLUSIONS
There exist different kinds of nonmotoneurons in the facial nucleus. The results of this study suggest that the facial nucleus not only controls the movement of the facial skeletal muscles, but also participates in the regulation of other functions such as respiration.
Yan
Hengxiu
H
Department of Physiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Chengwu
C
Zheng
Yu
Y
D000818:Animals; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012119:Respiration; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*