Role of the cerebellum in the control of gastro-intestinal motility.

Abstract

172 points In the cerebellar vermis and the fastigial nucleus were stimulated to observe the effects on gastric and duodenal motility of the cat. Stimulation of the nodule consistently increased gastric motility producing tonic as well as rhythmic contractions. In general, whenever the stimulation of a cerebellar point increased the gastric motility, duodenal motility was simultaneously inhibited. In these cases, however, the duodenum was markedly activated during the post-stimulation period. Stimulation of the uvula elicited responses which were dependent on the initial state of gastric activity. At high basal pressures, gastric motility was inhibited by cerebellar stimulation while, at low basal pressures, it was increased. Stimulation of points in the lobulus centralis, the lingula, and the fastigial nucleus produced different types of responses varying from no effect to various grades of inhibitory or excitatory changes. Changes in gastric and duodenal motility bore no specific relation to the simultaneously recorded changes in systemic arterial pressure. Responses exhibiting increase as well as those exhibiting decrease of gastric motility were observed to be associated with a rise in blood pressure. In most animals these responses were also accompanied by respiratory excitation.