Utricular Nerve Research Articles

On the origin of positional alcohol nystagmus.

The vestibular system plays an important role in the origin of positional alcohol nystagmus (P.A.N.). An investigation was performed on the effect of artificial lesions in the peripheral vestibular organs of rabbits upon P.A.N. In rabbits in which the otoliths were eliminated on both sides, a P.A.N. could not be provoked. If on one side the labyrinth was totally destroyed, a P.A.N. could still be elicited, but if in the only intact labyrinth the utricular nerve was also transected, a P.A.N. could no longer be elicited. That the otoliths are responsible for the P.A.N. also finds support in the fact that increased g forces effect a P.A.N. in rabbits as well as in man.

Response to static tilts of peripheral neurons innervating otolith organs of the squirrel monkey.

Response to static tilts of peripheral neurons innervating otolith organs of the squirrel monkey.

Vestibulo-oculomotor Relations: Static Responses

Publisher Summary It is generally agreed that the otolith organs, the utricle, and saccule perceive linear acceleration and gravity. Because of their role in sensing the position of the head in relation to gravity, Breuer designated the otolith organs as the organs of the Statischer Sinn (static sense). The semicircular canals are generally considered to respond only to angular movement of the head, not to gravity, although this is disputed by several authors. In this chapter, eye movements induced by stimulation of the utricular nerve is described, and effects of the semicircular canals on a “static” vestibulo-ocular reflex, positional alcohol nystagmus, is demonstrated. The data indicate that the function of the semicircular canals and otolith organs may not be as separate as has been previously assumed. Eye deviations are produced in cats and rabbits in side down positions before and after alcohol intoxication. After alcohol, horizontal deviations become dominant and rotatory movements are less prominent. In intoxicated cats, it is shown that intact lateral canals are necessary to produce the horizontal components of positional alcohol nystagmus in side down positions. There is some indication that the labyrinth on the opposite side induced the rotatory components of this nystagmus.

Utricular ablation and dysequilibrium in squirrel monkeys.

The body equilibrium compensation profile (degree of dysequilibrium, direction of falls, etc.) after unilateral utricular nerve section was investigated in squirrel monkeys. Severe dysequilibrium was observed after this procedure without exception. Complete equilibrium compensation took place three weeks to one month postoperatively. The difference in equilibrium function after unilateral utricular nerve section and saccular macula ablation in the squirrel monkey was clearly demonstrated.

Distribution of neural responses to tilting within vestibular nuclei of the cat.

Distribution of neural responses to tilting within vestibular nuclei of the cat.B W PetersonB W PetersonSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:01 Nov 1970https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.1970.33.6.750MoreSectionsPDF (3 MB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInWeChat Previous Back to Top Next Download PDF FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation Cited ByResponses of Monkey Vestibular-Only Neurons to Translation and Angular RotationWu Zhou, Bing Feng Tang, Shawn D. Newlands, and W. M. King1 December 2006 | Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 96, No. 6Eye movements evoked by the selective stimulation of the utricular nerve in catsAuris Nasus Larynx, Vol. 30, No. 4Vestibulospinal and Reticulospinal Neuronal Activity During Locomotion in the Intact Cat. I. Walking on a Level SurfaceKiyoji Matsuyama, and Trevor Drew1 November 2000 | Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 84, No. 5Vestibulospinal and Reticulospinal Neuronal Activity During Locomotion in the Intact Cat. II. Walking on an Inclined PlaneKiyoji Matsuyama, and Trevor Drew1 November 2000 | Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 84, No. 5Labyrinthine projection to the hypoglossal nucleusBrain Research Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 1Convergent effects from vestibulospinal tract and primary cutaneous afferent fibers on motoneurons to ankle extensor and flexor muscles in humansExperimental Neurology, Vol. 97, No. 3Response characteristics of neurons in the cat vestibular nuclei during slow and constant velocity off-vertical axes rotations in the clockwise and counterclockwise rotationsBrain Research, Vol. 406, No. 1-2Vestibular effects in long C3–C5 propriospinal neuronesBrain Research, Vol. 404, No. 1-2Responses of rat lateral hypothalamic neuron activity to vestibular nuclei stimulationBrain Research, Vol. 400, No. 1Regional differences of brain glucose metabolic compensation after unilateral labyrinthectomy in rats: a [14C]2-deoxyglucose studyBrain Research, Vol. 373, No. 1-2Influence of standing on vestibular neuronal activity in awake catsExperimental Neurology, Vol. 92, No. 1Effect of tilt on the response of neuronal activity within the cat vestibular nuclei during slow and constant velocity rotationBrain Research, Vol. 345, No. 2Electrophysiological analysis of cerebellar corticovestibular and fastigiovestibular projections to the lateral vestibular nucleus in the catBrain Research, Vol. 272, No. 2Neuronal organization of the vestibulospinal system in the catBrain Research, Vol. 259, No. 2Phase changes induced by ketamine in the vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex in the rabbitBrain Research, Vol. 224, No. 1Response characteristics of cerebellar interpositus and intermediate cortex neurons to sinusoidal stimulation of neck and labyrinth receptorsNeuroscience, Vol. 5, No. 2Properties of central vestibular neurons fired by stimulation of the saccular nerveBrain Research, Vol. 143, No. 2Crossed responses of lateral vestibular neurons to macular labyrinthine stimulationBrain Research, Vol. 131, No. 1A new long spinal projection from the vestibular nuclei in the catBrain Research, Vol. 122, No. 2Dynamic relations between natural vestibular inputs and activity of forelimb extensor muscles in the decerebrate cat. III. Motor output during rotations in the vertical planeBrain Research, Vol. 120, No. 1The lateral reticular nucleus in the cat—II. Effects of lateral reticular lesions on posture and reflex movementsNeuroscience, Vol. 2, No. 6Crossed sacculo-ocular pathway via the deiters' nucleus in catsBrain Research Bulletin, Vol. 2, No. 1Macular input to the cerebellar nodulusBrain Research, Vol. 99, No. 2Macular input to neurons of the spinoreticulocerebellar pathwayBrain Research, Vol. 95, No. 2-3Responses of motor cortex cells to tilt in the ‘encéphale isolé’ catBrain Research, Vol. 92, No. 1Discharges of medullary respiratory neurones during tiltingBrain Research, Vol. 68, No. 1Responses of brain stem reticular neurones to tiltingBrain Research, Vol. 56Branching of individual lateral vestibulospinal axons at different spinal cord levelsBrain Research, Vol. 56Commissural projection from the nuclei of termination of the VIIIth cranial nerve in the toadBrain Research, Vol. 42, No. 1Response of Deiters' neurons to tilt during locomotionBrain Research, Vol. 42, No. 1Convergence of labyrinthine influences on units in the vestibular nuclei of the cat. I. Natural stimulationBrain Research, Vol. 35, No. 2Frequency analysis of vestibular influence on extensor motoneurons. I. Response to tilt in forelimb extensorsBrain Research, Vol. 34, No. 2 More from this issue > Volume 33Issue 6November 1970Pages 750-67 https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.1970.33.6.750PubMed5485402History Published online 1 November 1970 Published in print 1 November 1970 Metrics

Eye movements from single utricular nerve stimulation in the cat.

Single utricular nerves were electrically stimulated in the cat. The induced eye movements were almost pure rotation in both eyes. In addition to rotation, there were upward shifts in the ipsilateral eye and downward shifts in the contralateral eye. Slight contralateral horizontal shifts occurred in both eyes. Tension increases in extraocular muscles were strongest in the ipsilateral superior oblique and contralateral inferior oblique. They were weaker in the ipsilateral superior rectus and contralateral inferior rectus, and were weakest in the ipsilateral medial rectus and contralateral lateral rectus muscles. The tension increase in the contralateral inferior oblique and the lateral rectus was studied by changing the frequency of stimulation. The utricular-ocular reflex reacted from very low to very high frequencies, as high as 1600 cps. In comparison, the cupulo-ocular reflex arc did not respond well to high frequencies. The temporal summation in the vestibulo-ocular reflexes appeared different between...

Squirrel monkey rail test. A design for testing dynamic equilibrium.

The squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) rail test, which is based on the avoidance conditioning method, is designed to detect the disequilibrium that is exhibited by change in locomotor performance. The present procedure makes it possible to obtain quantitative and comparable data, and to compare compensation patterns after selective ablation of different parts of the vestibular system in subhuman primates. The representative data from several different groups (unilateral labyrinthectomy, unilateral utricular nerve section, unilateral saccular macula destruction, and unilateral stapedectomy) were presented to compare the effect of each surgical procedure upon the performance of squirrel monkey rail tests.Le test de rail avec les Saimiri sciureus (squirrel monkeys), base stir la methode de conditionnement pour action d'eviter, est designe a decouvrir le desequilibre qui se montre en changeant l'action locomotrice. Avec le procede actuel il est possible d'obtenir des donnees quantitatives et comparables et d...

The influence of the utricle on nystagmus.

When the utriclar macula was pressed by the otolith, the nystagmus to the same side was enhanced. By resecting the utricular nerve, it was found the directional preponderance was to the opposite side. We can be sure that the utricle has an influence on the formation of nystagmus.

Experimental Study on Utricular Function by Inducing Action Current of Utricular Nerve

Experimental Study on Utricular Function by Inducing Action Current of Utricular Nerve

V - Some features of the action of the utricular maculæ (and of the associated action of the semicircular canals) of the frog

As is well known, the operation of unilateral labyrinthectomy produces a persistent leaning of the head accompanied by spinal torque. Breuer (1875) once ventured to suggest that damage to the utriculus might be responsible for this effect. Subsequent work by many observers, e.g ., Laudenbach (1899), G. H. Parker (1908, 1909), Benjamins (1920), Maxwell (1920), Manning (1924), McNally and Tait (1925), Versteegh (1927), von Frisch and Stetter (1932), has tended to support this original conjecture. One of the main obstacles to certainty on the subject is the operative difficulty of reaching the utricular macula and of carrying out its uncomplicated ablation. Hitherto the clearest evidence on the matter is that of Versteegh (1927). In the rabbit he succeeded, without damaging other structures, in making a partial severance of the utricular nerve on one side. As a consequence the animal exhibited persistent “Kopfdrehung” towards the side of the operation. If damage to one utriculus causes spinal torque and head twist, the inference is that the utricular maculae, in keeping the head horizontal, are adapted to respond to the field of gravity.