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Changes in jaw reflexes by stimulation of the hypothalamus in anesthetized rabbits
M Inoue1, K Nozawa-Inoue, Y Miyaoka
1Division of Oral Physiology, Department of Oral Biological Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 951-8514, Niigata, Japan. inoue@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Changes in the masseteric monosynaptic reflex (MMR) and jaw-opening reflex (JOR) responses resulting from conditioning stimulation in the hypothalamus were studied in anesthetized rabbits. Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus evoked a facilitation of the MMR and an inhibitory or facilitatory effect on the JOR. The facilitatory effect on JOR was stronger than that on the MMR. The facilitatory effective site for the JOR was in the dorsal and lateral directions as compared to the inhibitory field. The results suggest two functionally distinct regions in the lateral hypothalamus that separately project to the jaw-opening muscles.