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CNS activation patterns underlying motor evoked potentials as demonstrated by c-fos immunoreactivity
R A Zappulla1, W Wang, V L Friedrich
1Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029.
Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology. Supplement
|January 11, 1991
Summary
Electrical stimulation of rat motor cortex activates central nervous system neurons, indicated by c-fos protein. Monopolar stimulation showed more brainstem activation, suggesting these structures contribute to motor evoked potentials.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurophysiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The c-fos protein serves as a marker for neuronal activation.
- Understanding neural pathways activated by motor cortex stimulation is crucial for interpreting neurophysiological signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neuronal activation patterns in the rat central nervous system following motor cortex stimulation.
- To differentiate between direct cortical activation and stimulus spread using c-fos protein expression.
Main Methods:
- Electrical stimulation (monopolar and bipolar) of the rat motor cortex.
- Local application of bicuculline to the motor cortex.
- Immunohistochemical detection of c-fos protein in the central nervous system.
Main Results:
- C-fos protein staining was observed in the cortex, hippocampus, and caudate-putamen after electrical stimulation.
- Brainstem staining was more pronounced with monopolar stimulation.
- Bicuculline application resulted in localized cortical c-fos staining, unlike diffuse electrical stimulation.
Conclusions:
- C-fos protein is a reliable marker for both directly and synaptically activated neurons in the motor cortex.
- Non-motor pathway activation may result from physiological responses or stimulus spread.
- Monopolar stimulation's brainstem activation supports its role in motor evoked potentials.