Summary
The ventral medial nucleus of the thalamus (VM) has been shown in rats and cats to constitute a common target for nigro- and cerebellothalamic pathways. In the present study the responses of VM neurons to ipsilateral substantia nigra (SN) and contralateral cerebellar nuclei stimulation were analyzed in the rat. The typical response of VM neurons to SN stimulation consisted of a pure short-latency (1.1–3 ms), short-duration (7–17 ms) IPSP. Latencies of these responses were accorded well with the conduction velocity of the nigrothalamic fibers as measured on the basis of antidromic activation of this pathway. A high percentage (58%) of the thalamic neurons receiving the inhibitory nigral effect were also affected by cerebellar stimulation. The cerebellar effect consisted of a short-latency depolarizing potential which could trigger an action potential. These responses were invariably blocked during the course of SN evoked inhibition. Such convergence was found with fastigial as well as interpositus/dentatus evoked responses.
The demonstration of an interaction between the processing of SN and cerebellar output at thalamic level provides an important clue for the understanding of the neurophysiologic mechanisms by which SN acts on motor behavior.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afifi AK, Bahuth NB, Jabbur SJ (1970) The nigrotectal tract, an experimental study of its site of origin. Acta Anatomica 77: 67–77
Albe-Fessard D, Stutinsky F, Libouban S (1966) Atlas stereotaxique du diencéphale du rat blanc. CNRS, Paris
Anderson M, Yoshida M (1977) Electrophysiological evidence for branching nigral projections to the thalamus and superior colliculus. Brain Res 137: 361–364
Angaut P, Bowsher D (1970) Ascending projections of the medial cerebellar (fastigial) nucleus: An experimental study in the cat. Brain Res 24: 49–68
Bava A, Cicirata F, Licciardello S, Li Volsi G, Panto MR (1979) Fastigial nuclei projections on the ventralis lateralis (VL) thalamic nucleus neurons. Brain Res 168: 169–175
Chan-Palay V (1977) Cerebellar dentate nucleus. Organization, cytology and transmitters. Springer-Verlag New York
Chevalier G, Deniau JM, Thierry AM, Feger J (1981) The nigrotectal pathway. An electrophysiological reinvestigation in the rat. Brain Res 213: 253–263
Chiara G di, Porceddu ML, Morelli M, Mulas ML, Gessa GL (1979) Evidence for a GABAergic projection from the substantia nigra to the ventromedial thalamus and to the superior colliculus of the rat. Brain Res 176: 273–284
Cole M, Nauta WJH, Mehler WR (1964) The ascending efferent projections of the substantia nigra. Trans Am Neurol Assoc 89: 74–78
Deniau JM, Féger J, Le Guyader C (1976) Striatal evoked inhibition of identified nigrothalamic neurons. Brain Res 104: 152–156
Deniau JM, Chevalier G, Féger J (1978a) Electrophysiological study of the nigro-tectal pathway in the rat. Neurosci Lett 10: 215–220
Deniau JM, Hammond C, Riszk A, Féger J (1978b) Electrophysiological properties of identified output neurons of the rat substantia nigra (pars compacta and pars reticulata): evidences for the existence of branched neurons. Exp Brain Res 32: 409–422
Deniau JM, Lackner D, Féger J (1978c) Effect of substantia nigra stimulation on identified neurons in the VL-VA thalamic complex: comparison between intact and chronically decorticated cats. Brain Res 145: 27–35
Dray A (1979) The striatum and substantia nigra: A commentary on their relationships. Neuroscience 4: 1407–1439
Faull RLM, Carman JB (1968) Ascending projections of the substantia nigra in the rat. J Comp Neurol 132: 73–92
Faull RLM, Carman JB (1978) The cerebellofugal projections in the brachium conjunctivum of the rat. I. The contralateral ascending pathway. J Comp Neurol 178: 495–518
Giolli RA, Braithwaite JR, Streeter T (1968) Golgi study of the nucleus of the transpeduncular tract in the rabbit. J Comp Neurol 133: 309–328
Graybiel AM, Ragsdale CW (1979) Fiber connections of the basal ganglia. Prog Brain Res 51: 239–283
Haroian AJ, Massopust LC, Young PA (1981) Cerebello-thalamic projections in the rat: An autoradiographic and degeneration study. J Comp Neurol 197: 217–236
Herkenham M (1979) The afferent and efferent connections of the ventromedial thalamic nucleus in the rat. J Comp Neurol 183: 487–518
James TA, MacLeod NK, Starr MS (1981) The cerebello-thalamic pathway in the rat. J Physiol (Lond) 313: 29P
Kievit J, Kuypers HGJM (1972) Fastigial cerebellar projections to the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus and the organization of the descending pathways. In: Frigyesi T, Rinvik E, Yahr MD (eds) Corticothalamic projections and sensorimotor activities, vol 11. Raven Press, New York, pp 91–114
Kilpatrick IC, Starr MS, Fletcher A, James TA, MacLeod NK (1980) Evidence for a GABAergic nigro-thalamic pathway in the rat. I. Behavioural and biochemical studies. Exp Brain Res 40: 45–54
Kultas-Ilinsky K, Ilinsky IA, Massopust LC, Young PA, Smith KR (1978) Nigrothalamic pathway in the cat demonstrated by autoradiography and electron microscopy. Exp Brain Res 33: 481–492
Kultas-Ilinsky K, Ilinsky IA, Young PA, Smith KR (1980a) Ultrastructure of degenerating cerebello-thalamic terminals in the ventral medial nucleus of the cat. Exp Brain Res 38: 125–135
Kultas-Ilinsky K, Warton S, Ilinsky IA (1980b) Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of dentate and fastigial afferents identified by electron microscopic autoradiography in the cat thalamus. Brain Res 201: 220–226
MacLeod NK, James TA, Killpatrick IC, Starr MS (1980) Evidence for a GABAergic nigro-thalamic pathway in the rat. II. Electrophysiological studies. Exp Brain Res 40: 55–61
Mehler WR (in press) The basal ganglia: A review and commentary. Appl Neurophysiol
Mettler FA (1970) Nigrofugal connections in the primate brain. J Comp Neurol 138: 291–320
Pycock CJ (1980) Turning behavior in animals. Neuroscience 5: 461–514
Schulz DW, MacDonald RL (1981) Barbiturate enhancement of GABA-mediated inhibition and activation of chloride ion conductance: Correlation with anticonvulsant and anaesthetic actions. Brain Res 209: 177–188
Sugimoto T, Mizuno N, Itoh K (1981) An autoradiographic study on the terminal distribution of cerebello-thalamic fibers in the cat. Brain Res 215: 29–47
Ueki A, Uno M, Anderson M, Yoshida M (1977) Monosynaptic inhibition of thalamic neurons produced by stimulation of the substantia nigra. Experientia 33: 1480–1481
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chevalier, G., Deniau, J.M. Inhibitory nigral influence on cerebellar evoked responses in the rat ventromedial thalamic nucleus. Exp Brain Res 48, 369–376 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238613
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238613