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[Latency, threshold and frequency selectivity of the crossed medial cochlear efferent pathways].

The efferent innervation of guinea pig cochleas was sectioned medially, at the level of the floor of the fourth ventricle, to study the effects of the crossed part of the medial efferent pathway on the compound action potential (CAP) masking phenomenon. Sectioning reduced CAP masking for a masker level varying with the frequency of the masker and the time elapsed between the masker onset and the probe onset. Functional properties of the crossed part of the medial efferent tracts: latency, thresholds and frequency selectivity, could be deduced from these data. This intensification of the masking phenomenon permitting the improvement of the signal to noise ratio, may thus be attributed to the crossed part of the medial efferent bundle which innervates the outer hair cells.

Animals↗

Disruption of lateral efferent pathways: functional changes in auditory evoked responses.

The functional consequences of selectively lesioning the lateral olivocochlear efferent system in guinea pigs were studied. The lateral superior olive (LSO) contains the cell bodies of lateral olivocochlear neurons. Melittin, a cytotoxic chemical, was injected into the brain stem using stereotaxic coordinates and near-field evoked potentials to target the LSO. Brain stem histology revealed discrete damage to the LSO following the injections. Functional consequences of this damage were reflected in depressed amplitude of the compound action potential of the eighth nerve (CAP) following the lesion. Threshold sensitivity and N1 latencies were relatively unchanged. Onset adaptation of the cubic distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was evident, suggesting a reasonably intact medial efferent system. The present results provide the first report of functional changes induced by isolated manipulation of the lateral efferent pathway. They also confirm the suggestion that changes in single-unit auditory nerve activity after cutting the olivocochlear bundle are probably a consequence of disrupting the more lateral of the two olivocochlear efferent pathways.

Action Potentials↗

Efferent pathways of the coronary chemoreflex.

This study was performed to identify the efferent pathways which mediate vasodilation during activation of the coronary chemoreflex and to compare the reflex responses in vessels in skeletal muscle and skin. Reflex vasodilator responses (decreases in perfusion pressure) were measured in innervated, perfused gracilis muscle and hindpaw of dogs during activation of the coronary chemoreflex with intracoronary injections of nicotine. Reflex vasodilator responses to intracoronary nicotine (1.25 and 2.50 mu-g per kilogram) averaged -14 plus or minus 5 (S.E.M.) and -34 plus or minus 6 mm. Hg, respectively, in muscle, but only -5 plus or minus 2 and -10 plus or minus 4 mm. Hg, respectively, in paw. Atropine, tripelennamine, and propranolol did not alter the vasodilation. Guanethidine blocked reflex vasodilation in muscle. The reflex vasodilator responses in paw were slight and were not significantly attenuated by guanethidine. The results indicate that sympathetic cholinergic pathways to skeletal muscle do not participate in the coronary chemoreflex. The reflex vasodilation in muscle results from withdrawal of adrenergic constrictor tone. The efferent pathway demonstrates that the coronary chemoreflex does not produce striking withdrawal of adrenergic tone in paw. The results indicate, therefore, that activation of the coronary chemoreflex results in greater withdrawal of adrenergic constrictor tone and greater vasodilation in muscle than in skin.

Animals↗

Localization of NADPH-diaphorase in pelvic afferent and efferent pathways of the rat.

The NADPH diaphorase histochemical reaction was used in combination with retrograde axonal transport of Fluorogold (FG) from the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) to determine if NADPH diaphorase is contained within afferent and preganglionic efferent pathways to pelvic visceral organs. In L6 and S1 dorsal root ganglia, 68.5% and 62.2%, respectively, of FG-labeled afferent neurons were NADPH-diaphorase positive. In the sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) of the L6 and S1 spinal cord segments, 49.4% and 51.7%, respectively of FG labeled preganglionic efferent neurons were NADPH-diaphorase positive. NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were also observed in laminae I and II of the dorsal horn, around the central canal and in the dorsal commissure. In addition, fiber-like NADPH diaphorase staining was present in superficial dorsal horn, Lissauer's tract and the lateral edge of the dorsal horn extending into the region of the SPN. If NADPH diaphorase activity in neurons does indicate a physiological function of nitric oxide, then nitric oxide may have a role as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter within visceral afferent and preganglionic efferent pathways to the pelvic viscera in the rat.

Afferent Pathways↗

The afferent and efferent pathways of the recto-colonic reflex in the dog.

The nature of the afferent and efferent pathways of the recto-colonic reflex was studied electrophysiologically in the dog. A compound action potential consisting of many peaks was evoked on a sacral dorsal rootlet by a stimulus to the ipsilateral rectal strands of the pelvic nerve. Conduction velocities of the peaks indicate that A delta and C afferent fibers innervate the colon and rectum. When the stimuli were subthreshold for C fibers, the reflex discharges of contralateral parasympathetic post-ganglionic fibers in the rectal strands and the reflex contraction of the colon were smaller than those caused by stronger stimuli. As the intensity of the stimulus to the sacral ventral roots was weakened, response peaks of preganglionic B fibers in the rectal branch, post-ganglionic C fibers in the rectal strands and a bladder branch of the pelvic nerve disappeared in the order of slow to fast conduction velocities. Contraction of the colon also decreased. The number of peaks arising from each nerve correlated well with the strength of the contraction. These results indicate that the peripheral limbs of the recto-colonic reflex arc consist of afferent A delta and C fibers, preganglionic B fibers and post-ganglionic C fibers.

Action Potentials↗

Afferent and efferent pathways of the vibrissal region of primary motor cortex in the mouse.

The afferent and efferent connections of the vibrissal representation within the mouse primary motor cortex (MsI) were identified by using the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the anterograde transport of tritiated amino acids injected into MsI. Following aldehyde perfusion brains were frozen-sectioned at 40 microns and reacted for HRP using the 3-3' diaminobenzidine-cobalt chloride technique of Adams ('77). Alternate HRP reacted sections were processed for autoradiography. HRP-filled pyramidal cell somata and concentrations of developed silver grains above background levels were observed in both the vibrissal area of primary somatosensory cortex (SmI) cortex (i.e., the posteromedial barrel subfield; PMBSF cortex) and in the face region of SmII (area 40). In both regions labeled somata occurred predominantly in cortical layers II-III and V. Autoradiographic label was superimposed over the regions containing labeled somata but exhibited a less distinct laminar organization. A dense reciprocal projection connected the injection site with the homotopic area in contralateral MsI; somata occurred for the most part in layers III and V. Developed silver grains were uniformly dispersed over the area containing labeled cell bodies. HRP-labeled pyramidal somata were noted in contralateral PMBSF cortex, but no silver grains occurred in this region. Reciprocal projections linked MsI cortex with the ipsilateral thalamic nuclei: ventralis pars lateralis (VL) and centralis pars lateralis (CL) and with the zona incerta (ZI). Labeled cell bodies and developed silver grains were more dense in VL than in CL. The ipsilateral striatum and thalamic reticular nucleus (NRT) received afferents from the motor cortex but did not project to it. Thus, the vibrissal area of primary motor cortex is connected with a number of cortical and subcortical structures, each of which has been shown to play a role in motor performance. Identification of the afferent and efferent pathways of MsI cortex will now enable further investigation of the ultrastructural and synaptic organization of the vibrissal area of MsI.

Afferent Pathways↗

Optic tectum of the eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis. I. Efferent pathways.

Extracellular, iontophoretic injections of horseradish peroxidase were used to anterogradely fill axons efferent from the optic tectum in garter snakes. The tectal efferent pathways consist of six axon types with distinct projections and terminal morphologies. Tectogeniculate axons pass into the diencephalon via the optic tract, bearing collaterals that form spatially restricted, rodlike arbors in the pretectum, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, and the ventrolateral nucleus. Tectoisthmi axons exit the tectum as a thin-caliber component of the ventral tectobulbar tract. They form spatially restricted, spherical arbors within nucleus isthmi. Tectoisthmobulbar axons also give rise to small, spherical arbors within nucleus isthmi, but the parent axons continue caudally into the pontine and medullary reticular formation issuing many short collateral branches. Tectorotundal axons reach the diencephalon via the tectothalamic tract and give rise to fine terminal collaterals in the nucleus of the tectothalamic tract ipsilaterally and in nucleus rotundus bilaterally. Single axons form sheetlike terminal fields that span the rostrocaudal extent of nucleus rotundus. Ipsilateral tectobulbar axons descend into the midbrain tegmentum where they issue several thick collaterals that terminate widely throughout the nucleus lateralis profundus mesencephali. The parent axon continues caudally giving off several widely spreading collaterals within the pontine and medullary reticular formation. Crossed tectobulbar axons enter the dorsal tectobulbar tract and cross the midline to form the predorsal bundle. Single axons give rise to terminal collaterals in the nucleus lateralis profundus mesencephali bilaterally, the contralateral pontine and medullary reticular formation, and the intermediate gray of the cervical spinal cord.

Animals↗

Cholecystokinin does not act on the efferent pathway of cholinergic and adrenergic nerves to inhibit ruminal contractions in sheep (Ovis aries).

The effect of exogenous cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) on ruminal contractions and the role of efferent pathways of cholinergic and adrenergic nerves on the effect were studied in sheep. Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 at 11.4 and 45.6 pmol/kg/min significantly inhibited the frequency and amplitude of ruminal contractions in conscious sheep. After bilateral cervical vagotomy, intravenous infusion of CCK-8 at 45.6 mol/kg/min had no detectable effect on amplitude of ruminal contractions induced by electric stimulation to the cervical vagus nerve (1 msec, 20 Hz, 5 mA, for 10 sec at 1-min intervals) in anesthetized sheep. The amplitude of contractile responses of ovine ruminal muscle strips to acetylcholine at 5 x 10(-5) M was not inhibited by CCK-8 applied simultaneously at 1 x 10(-9) M. Intravenous infusion of phentolamine at 53.0 nmol/kg/min, propranolol at 101.4 nmol/kg/min, or their combined infusion did not alter the inhibitory action of CCK-8 at either dose on ruminal contractions in conscious sheep. These results suggest that CCK-8, which does not act on the efferent pathway of cholinergic and adrenergic nerves, may reflexively inhibit reticuloruminal contractions via vagal afferent fibers in sheep.

Acetylcholine↗

Efferent pathways in the reflex control of gastric emptying in rats.

Previous studies have established that acid, hypertonic, or protein-rich liquid test meals delay gastric emptying by reflex pathways involving the extrinsic innervation of the gut. To characterize the efferent pathways involved in these reflexes, we have studied the emptying of liquid test meals in control rats and in rats after celiac ganglionectomy, pyloroplasty, and treatment with guanethidine or 6-hydroxydopamine, and in rats with circulating vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) antibodies. The results suggest that the action of hypertonic solutions on gastric emptying requires an intact celiac ganglion, that acid requires an intact pylorus, and that the action of protein-rich meals is suppressed by VIP antibodies. Sympathetic adrenergic neurons do not apparently mediate the gastric emptying of any of these solutions. The results suggest that there are at least three different reflexes by which the different components of a mixed meal might control gastric emptying. The results are also consistent with the idea that vagovagal reflexes mediate the action of protein-rich solutions on gastric emptying in rats.

Animals↗

Dopaminergic regulation of striatal efferent pathways.

In the past year there has been a growing debate about the distribution of dopamine receptors in striatal efferent pathways. As is often the case, different approaches lead to different perspectives. Nevertheless, the available data can be reconciled with a model in which D1 and D2 dopamine receptors are segregated in the distal dendrites and axonal terminal fields of striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons, but intermingled in the soma and proximal dendrites.

Animals↗

Phenyldiguanide activates cardiac receptors to produce responses by involving three different efferent pathways in anaesthetized rats.

The present study was undertaken to determine the afferent and efferent pathways involved in the phenyldiguanide (PDG)-induced reflex response in rats. Intravenous (iv) injection of PDG (10 microg/kg), produced hypotension, bradycardia and apnea over a period of time. Bilateral vagotomy abolished the PDG-induced reflex changes. Atropine (2 mg/kg; iv) blocked only the bradycardiac response produced by PDG, while prazosin (0.5 mg/kg; iv) blocked the hypotensive response, and bilateral vagotomy in these animals abolished the apneic response. In separate series of experiments, intrapericardial injection of lignocaine abolished the hypotensive and bradycardiac responses evoked by PDG in artificially ventilated rats. The results reveal that the PDG-induced reflex is mediated through vagal afferents originating from the heart and efferents involve three different pathways. The bradycardiac response was through the muscarinic receptors, the hypotension is mediated through alpha1 adrenoceptors and the apnea presumably through the spinal motoneurones supplying the respiratory muscles.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Functional asymmetries of crossed and uncrossed medial olivocochlear efferent pathways in humans.

In a previous study, a peripheral auditory asymmetry in right-handers was found. The activity of the uncrossed medial olivocochlear efferent pathway has been shown to be more effective in the right than in the left ear. Our aim was to compare right and left medial olivocochlear inhibition during contralateral, ipsilateral and binaural ear stimulation with a broad band noise, in order to better localize this asymmetry. Uncrossed pathway asymmetry was confirmed and the crossed pathway showed a reverse asymmetry: a left ear advantage. These results are in accordance with the assumption that the medial superior olivary complex is the locus of the asymmetry observed. As this nuclear complex receives central efferents, the peripheral auditory asymmetry may be related to the well-known cortical asymmetry.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

[An analysis of A-wave with slowed conduction in its afferent and efferent pathways below the branching point].

Motor nerve conduction study was carried out in a 59-year-old woman with 20 years' history of diabetes mellitus. When her right ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist, the needle electrode penetrated into the first dorsal interosseous muscle revealed an existence of A-wave. Following characteristics were observed: (1) A-wave appeared with more than 20 mA of the stimuli, in a all-or-none manner at the latency of 54 msec; (2) when stimulated more than 50 mA, A-wave jumped at 10 msec of the latency and were superimposed upon the M-wave; (3) A-wave had a stable latency; (4) when stimulated at the more proximal site, A-wave had longer latency (direct pathway) by strong stimuli, and the potential had shorter latency (indirect pathway) by weak stimuli; and (5) A-wave was not collided by paired stimuli. A-wave conduction velocity was slower than 10 m/sec in the distal part of the reflecting point both in afferent and efferent pathways. This report is the first to show strikingly slowed conduction of A-wave distal to the reflecting point compared to the proximal portion. This fact supports the thesis that A-wave is generated from the branching of immature regenerating fibers. M-wave conduction velocity also decreased around the reflecting point of the A-wave, suggesting that, in addition to moderate diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment at the cubital tunnel may be involved in generating this A-wave.

Afferent Pathways↗

An efferent pathway mediating reflex tracheal dilation in awake dogs.

Lung inflation is known to produce reflex relaxation of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) and dilation of the upper airway, but the specific efferent pathway involved has not been established. Therefore we examined TSM tone in four trained awake dogs by measuring pressure changes in the water-filled cuff of an endotracheal tube that was inserted into the lower cervical trachea through a permanent tracheostomy. Under control conditions, sustained lung inflation with 1 liter of air produced apnea (Hering-Breuer inflation reflex) and a decrease in cuff pressure (Pcuff) of 37.4 +/- 12.0 (mean +/- SD) cmH2O. beta-Adrenergic blockade with propranolol had no effect on either the apneic or TSM responses to lung inflation. Efferent parasympathetic blockade with atropine sulfate (1.2-2.4 mg) abolished TSM tone, which was then restored to control levels by a continuous intravenous infusion of serotonin (14-28 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1). Under these conditions, lung inflation still induced reflex apnea but no longer relaxed TSM tone (mean decrease in Pcuff, 2.7 +/- 1.4 cmH2O, P less than 0.001). The findings indicate that reflex tracheal dilation in response to lung inflation is mediated by an efferent cholinergic (parasympathetic) pathway.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗