Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Medullary regions mediating atonia.

Y Y Lai1, J M Siegel

  • 1Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, California 91343.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|December 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

When hidden steroids cause harm: Secondary adrenal insufficiency from unrecognised exposure.

The Malaysian journal of pathology·2026
Same author

[Variables associated with severe cytopenia in adult chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving initial tyrosine kinase inhibitors].

Zhonghua xue ye xue za zhi = Zhonghua xueyexue zazhi·2026
Same author

[Clinical efficacy of endoscopic transnasal orbital decompression combined with optic nerve decompression for Graves ophthalmopathy: a retrospective study].

Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery·2026
Same author

[Minutes of the 2025 ESR&ISIAN&IRS Conference in Budapest, Hungary].

Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery·2025
Same author

Rest and Sleep in the Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious).

Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections·2025
Same author

[Endoscopic transorbital approach to the orbital apex and skull base: an applied anatomical study].

Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery·2025

Chemical activation of the medial medulla suppresses muscle tone via two distinct zones: nucleus magnocellularis (NMC) using non-NMDA receptors and nucleus paramedianus (NPM) using muscarinic receptors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurophysiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Medial medulla electrical stimulation linked to muscle tone inhibition.
  • Previous studies implicated the medial medulla in motor control.
  • Understanding the neurochemical basis of muscle tone regulation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of chemical activation of the medial medulla in suppressing muscle tone.
  • To identify distinct neurochemical pathways involved in muscle atonia.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying medullary control of muscle tone.

Main Methods:

  • Chemical microinjection into specific medial medullary regions (nucleus magnocellularis and nucleus paramedianus) in cats.
  • Utilized glutamate and acetylcholine (ACh) agonists and antagonists.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Electrophysiological recordings and behavioral assessments of muscle tone suppression (atonia).

    • Main Results:

    • Identified two distinct medial medullary zones for muscle tone suppression: rostral nucleus magnocellularis (NMC) sensitive to glutamate via non-NMDA receptors, and caudal nucleus paramedianus (NPM) sensitive to ACh via muscarinic receptors.
    • Chemical activation of NMC and NPM suppressed muscle tone in both decerebrate and intact cats.
    • Pontine atonia induction was blocked by medullary interventions, suggesting a hierarchical control.

    Conclusions:

    • The medial medulla contains distinct glutamatergic (NMC) and cholinergic (NPM) pathways that suppress muscle tone.
    • These medullary regions are hypothesized to be key mediators of muscle atonia during REM sleep and cataplexy.
    • Findings suggest a role for these pathways in postural control during wakefulness.