Role of the lateral reticular nucleus in suppressing the jaw-opening reflex following stimulation of the red nucleus.

We found in a previous study that stimulation of the red nucleus (RN) facilitated the low-threshold afferent-evoked jaw-opening reflex (JOR) and suppressed the high-threshold afferent-evoked JOR. It has been reported that the RN projections to the contralateral lateral reticular nucleus (LRt), and stimulation of the LRt inhibits the nociceptive JOR. These facts suggest that RN-induced modulation of the JOR is mediated via the LRt.

Modulation of two types of jaw-opening reflex by stimulation of the red nucleus.

The red nucleus (RN) is divided cytoarchitecturally into two parts, the parvicellular part (RPC) and the magnocellular part (RMC). The present study aims, first, to compare the effects of RN stimulation between low- and high-threshold afferents-evoked jaw opening reflexes (JORs), and secondly to compare the size of these effects in the RPC and RMC. Experiments were performed on rats anesthetized with urethane-chloralose.

Suppression of the nociceptive jaw-opening reflex by stimulation of the red nucleus.

We studied the effect of stimulation of the red nucleus (RN) on the jaw-opening reflex (JOR) in anesthetized rats. The JOR was evoked by electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp of a lower incisor, and was recorded as the electromyographic responses of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, bilaterally. Conditioning electrical stimulation of the RN was found to suppress the JOR bilaterally.

Neuronal activities of the vestibular nuclear complex during mechanically induced rhythmic jaw movements in rats.

We studied the neuronal activities of the vestibular nuclear complex (VN) neurons during rhythmic jaw movements in rats anesthetized with urethane. Rhythmic jaw movements were induced by mechanical stimulation of the palate mucosa. The firing rate of approximately 25% of VN neurons increased significantly, and that of 10% of VN neurons decreased significantly, during these rhythmic jaw movements.

Effects of neck muscle activities during rhythmic jaw movements by stimulation of the medial vestibular nucleus in rats.

This study first examines whether there is rhythmic activity of the neck muscles during cortically induced rhythmic jaw movements in rats anesthetized by urethane. Rhythmic jaw movements were induced by repetitive electrical stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex. An electromyogram in the splenius muscles (spEMG) showed rhythmic bursts during the jaw-opening phase, or during the transition from the jaw-opening phase to the jaw-closing phase.