Functional properties of neurons in the cat gracile nucleus that project to the dorsal accessory olive

Molinari, Helen H.; Dostrovsky, Jonathan O.

doi:10.1007/bf00247035

Cited by 13 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In this brain region, the information is integrated and contextualized with auditory information. Other populations of DCN neurons project to the olivocerebellar system 14 , 15 to coordinate motor adaptation. DCN neurons can also project to secondary thalamic nuclei 16 involved in the affective state and to the spinal cord and periaqueductal grey 14 , 16 .…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

Turecek

Lehnert

Ginty

2022

Nature

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The somatosensory system decodes a range of tactile stimuli to generate a coherent sense of touch. Discriminative touch of the body depends on signals conveyed from peripheral mechanoreceptors to the brain through the spinal cord dorsal column and its brainstem target, the dorsal column nuclei (DCN)1,2. Models of somatosensation emphasize that fast-conducting low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) innervating the skin drive the DCN3,4. However, postsynaptic dorsal column (PSDC) neurons within the spinal cord dorsal horn also collect mechanoreceptor signals and form a second major input to the DCN5–7. The significance of PSDC neurons and their contributions to the coding of touch have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we show that direct LTMR input to the DCN conveys vibrotactile stimuli with high temporal precision. Conversely, PSDC neurons primarily encode touch onset and the intensity of sustained contact into the high-force range. LTMR and PSDC signals topographically realign in the DCN to preserve precise spatial detail. Different DCN neuron subtypes have specialized responses that are generated by distinct combinations of LTMR and PSDC inputs. Thus, LTMR and PSDC subdivisions of the dorsal column encode different tactile features and differentially converge in the DCN to generate specific ascending sensory processing streams.

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Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

Turecek

Lehnert

Ginty

2022

Nature

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“…A separate, lesser-known population of DCN neurons relays tactile information to the external cortex of the inferior colliculus (IC) 12,13 where it is integrated and contextualized with auditory information. Other populations of DCN neurons project to the olivocerebellar system 14,15 to coordinate motor adaptation, to secondary thalamic nuclei 16 involved in affective state, and the spinal cord and periaqueductal gray 14,16 . Thus, the DCN is a conduit of incoming mechanosensory signals, broadly connecting mechanoreceptors in the periphery to several major brain areas 17 .…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

Turecek

Lehnert

Ginty

2022

Preprint

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The somatosensory system decodes a range of tactile stimuli to generate a coherent sense of touch. Discriminative touch of the body depends on signals conveyed from peripheral mechanoreceptors to the brain via the spinal cord dorsal column and its brainstem target the dorsal column nuclei (DCN). Models of somatosensation emphasize that fast-conducting low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) innervating the skin drive the DCN. However, post-synaptic dorsal column neurons (PSDCs) within the spinal cord dorsal horn also collect mechanoreceptor signals and form a second major input to the DCN. The significance of PSDCs and their contributions to the coding of touch have remained unclear since their discovery. Here, we show that direct LTMR inputs to the DCN convey vibrotactile stimuli with high temporal precision, whereas PSDCs primarily encode touch onset and the intensity of sustained contact into the high force range. LTMR and PSDC signals topographically re-align in the DCN to preserve precise spatial detail. Different DCN neuron subtypes have specialized responses that are generated by unique combinations of LTMR and PSDC inputs. Thus, LTMR and PSDC subdivisions of the dorsal column encode different tactile features and differentially converge in the DCN to generate unique ascending sensory processing streams.

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Serotoninergic innervation of the dorsal column nuclei and its relation to cytoarchitectonic subdivisions: An immunohistochemical study in cats and monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus)

Blomqvist

Broman

1993

J of Comparative Neurology

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The serotoninergic innervation of the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) was investigated in cats and owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) with immunohistochemical methods. A dense network of serotonin-immunoreactive fibers was present in the reticular regions of DCN in cats, and in the pars triangularis of the cuneate nucleus and the peripheral and caudal regions of the gracile nucleus in owl monkeys. The cat's cluster regions and the monkey's rotund regions were more sparsely innervated. Electron microscopic examination showed that the labeled fibers were thin and unmyelinated. Vesicle-containing, terminal-like structures were small. They were in contact with dendrites, other terminals and cell bodies, but synapses were rare. The results demonstrate that the serotoninergic projection to the DCN in both cats and owl monkeys is heterogeneously distributed in a pattern that is faithfully related to the cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of the DCN. The densely innervated reticular regions in the DCN of cats and the corresponding regions in monkeys are predominantly involved in the processing of sensory information to the cerebellum, either directly, or indirectly through projections to the inferior olive, pontine gray, tectum, pretectum, red nucleus, or zona incerta. Thus, the present findings suggest that the serotoninergic innervation of the DCN is primarily related to the DCN's involvement in motor functions.

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Functional properties of neurons in the cat gracile nucleus that project to the dorsal accessory olive

Cited by 13 publications

References 48 publications

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

The encoding of touch by somatotopically aligned dorsal column subdivisions

Serotoninergic innervation of the dorsal column nuclei and its relation to cytoarchitectonic subdivisions: An immunohistochemical study in cats and monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus)

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