Summary
Extracellular focal potentials were evoked and mapped in the trigeminal motor nucleus and its surrounding borderzone in the cat. Graded electrical stimulation was used for orthodromic and antidromic excitation of the masseteric and digastric motoneurones and for orthodromic stimulation of the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves. The method of referring Horsley Clarke coordinates of microelectrode recording positions to their location of the actual histological section was studied and the total error affecting the method was calculated for the H, AP and L axes. The characteristics and the distribution of the evoked focal potentials were described and related to the histological section from the actual experiment. A phase reversal of the negative focal potential evoked by the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves in the main sensory nucleus and in the intertrigeminal nucleus was observed to indicate the dorso-lateral border of the motor nucleus. Other borders were given by the antidromic potentials evoked in the nucleus. Digastric motoneurones were found medially in the caudal third and ventro-medially in the middle third of the motor nucleus. The masseteric motoneurones were located laterally in the middle and rostral thirds of the nucleus. Potentials evoked in the supratrigeminal and intertrigeminal subnuclei, adjacent to the motor nucleus, were considered and discussed in relation to the available evidence of interneurones subserving trigeminal reflex arcs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarado-Mallart, M.R., Batini, C., Delmas-Buisseret, C., Corvisier, J.: Trigeminal representations of the masticatory and extraocular proprioceptors as revealed by horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport. Exp. Brain Res. 23, 167–179 (1975)
Åström, K.E.: On the central course of afferent fibres in the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves and their nuclei in the mouse. Acta physiol. scand. 29, Suppl. 106 (1953)
Batini, C., Buisseret-Delmas, C., Corvisier, J.: Capture et transport de la peroxydase exogène dans les muscles masticateurs du chat. Localisation des motoneurones. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 280, 2239–2240 (1975)
Brock, L.G., Coombs, J.S., Eccles, J.E.: Intracellular recording from antidromically activated motoneurones. J. Physiol (Lond.) 122, 429–461 (1953)
Eide, E., Källström, Y.: Remotely controlled micromanipulator for neurophysiological use. Acta physiol. scand. 73, 2A-3A (1968)
Eisenman, J., Landgren, S., Novin, D.: Functional organization in the main sensory trigeminal nucleus and in the rostral subdivision of the nucleus of the spinal trigeminal tract in the cat. Acta physiol. scand. 59, Suppl. 214 (1963)
Eisenman, J., Fromm, G., Landgren, S., Novin, D.: The ascending projections of trigeminal neurons in the cat, investigated by antidromic stimulation. Acta physiol. scand. 60, 337–350 (1964)
Gobel, S.: Structural organization in the main sensory trigeminal nucleus. In: Oral-Facial sensory and motor mechanisms. R. Dubner and Y. Kawamura (Eds.), pp. 183–204. New York: Appelton-Century-Crofts 1971
Goldberg, L.J., Nakamura, Y.: Lingually induced inhibition of masseteric motoneurones. Experientia (Basel) 24, 371–373 (1968)
Gordon, G., Landgren, S., Seed, W.A.: The functional characteristics of single cells in the caudal part of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 158, 544–559 (1961)
Grant, G., Boivie, J., Silfvenius, H.: Course and termination of fibres from the nucleus Z of the medulla oblongata. An experimental light microscopical study in the cat. Brain Res. 55, 55–70 (1973)
Hellon, R.F.: The marking of electrode tip positions in nervous tissue. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 214, 12P (1971)
Jerge, C.R.: The function of the nucleus supratrigeminalis. J. Neurophysiol. 26, 393–402 (1963)
Kawamura, Y., Takata, M.: The role of trigeminal afferents in the control of masseter motoneuron activity. In: Oral-Facial sensory and motor mechanisms. R. Dubner and Y. Kawamura (Eds.). pp. 333–348. New York: Appelton-Century-Crofts 1971
Kerr, F.W.L.: The divisional organization of afferent fibres of the trigeminal nerve. Brain 86, 721–732 (1963)
Kidokoro, Y., Kubota, K., Shuto, S., Sumino, R.: Reflex organization of cat masticatory muscles. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 695–708 (1968a)
Kidokoro, Y., Kubota, K., Shuto, S., Sumino, R.: Possible interneurons responsible for reflex inhibition of motoneurons of jaw-closing muscles from the inferior dental nerve. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 709–716 (1968b)
Landgren, S., Silfvenius, H.: Nucleus Z, the medullary relay in the projection path to the cerebral cortex of Group I muscle afferents from the cat's hind limb. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 218, 551–571 (1971)
Lloyd, D.P.C.: The interaction of antidromic and orthodromic volleys in a segmental spinal motor nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 6, 143–151 (1943)
Lorente de Nó, R.: Contribution al conocimiento del nervio trigemino. In: Libro en honor de D.S. Ramó y Cajal. Vol. II. pp. 13–30. Madrid: Jaminez y Molina 1922
Meessen, H., Olszewski, J.: Cytoarchitektonischer Atlas des Rautenhirns des Kaninchens. Basel: S. Karger 1949
Mizuno, N., Konishi, A., Sato, M.: Localization of masticatory motoneurons in the cat and rat by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. J. comp. Neurol. 164, 105–116 (1975)
Nakamura, Y., Goldberg, L.J., Clemente, C.D.: Nature of supression of the masseteric monosynaptic reflex induced by stimulation of the orbital gyrus of the rat. Brain Res. 6, 184–198 (1967)
Nakamura, Y., Takatori, M., Nozaki, S., Kikuchi, M.: Monosynaptic reciprocal control of trigeminal motoneurons from the medial bulbar reticular formation. Brain Res. 89, 144–148 (1975)
Sauerland, E.K., Nakamura, Y., Clemente, C.D.: The role of the lower brain stem in cortically induced inhibition of somatic reflexes in the cat. Brain Res. 6, 164–180 (1967)
Szentágothai, J.: Functional representation in the motor trigeminal nucleus. J. comp. Neurol. 90, 111–120 (1949)
Taber, E.: The cytoarchitecture of the brain stem of the cat. I. Brain stem nuclei of cat. J. comp. Neurol. 116, 27–70 (1961)
Takata, M., Kawamura, Y.: Neurophysiologic properties of the supratrigeminal nucleus. Jap. J. Physiol. 20, 1–11 (1970)
Takata, M.: Posttetanic potentiation in masseter motoneuron. In: Oral Physiology. N. Emmelin and Y. Zotterman (Eds.), pp. 205–215. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1972
Thelander, H.E.: The course and distribution of the radix mesencephalica trigemini in the cat. J. comp. Neurol. 37, 207–220 (1924)
Torvik, A.: Afferent connections to the sensory trigeminal nuclei, the nucleus of the solitary tract and adjacent structures. An experimental study in the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 106, 51–142 (1956)
Torvik, A.: The ascending fibers from the main trigeminal sensory nucleus. An experimental study in the rat. Amer. J. Anat. 100, 1–14 (1957)
Vedral, D.F., Matzke, H.A.: Topographical localization of the nucleus of mastication in the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve in the cat. J. Hirnforsch. 9, 565–569 (1967)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Landgren, S., Olsson, K.Å. Localization of evoked potentials in the digastric, masseteric, supra- and intertrigeminal subnuclei of the cat. Exp Brain Res 26, 299–318 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234934
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234934